Multiple hazard marker system, components therefor and methods of making the same

ABSTRACT

A multiple hazard marker system consists of at least one multiple hazard marker, a deployment vehicle, a deployment surface and a deployment device for deploying the multiple hazard marker. The multiple hazard marker comprises a ground engaging portion, an upper portion and a central portion. The multiple hazard marker will remain erect when deployed and includes a visible marker for marking a position upon a field where deployed. The multiple hazard marker further has collapsible elements that expand upon deployment, a signaling device, a receiver for activating the signaling device and transmitter associated with the signaling device. The deployment device for deploying the multiple hazard marker collapses and retains the multiple hazard marker in the deployment device until a releasing mechanism releases the multiple hazard marker from the deployment device at deployment.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a non-provisional application for United StatesLetters Patent under 35 U.S.C. 111 (a) of provisional application Ser.No. 60/085,159, filed May 12, 1998.

GOVERNMENT RIGHTS

The U.S. Government has a paid-up license in this invention and theright in limited circumstances to require the patent owner to licenseothers on reasonable terms as provided for by the terms of ContractNumber DABT31-97-C0022 awarded by the Department of the Army.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a highly visible, easily deployed multiplehazard marker and multiple hazard marker system for breach lanes througha minefield, biohazard warning, chemical warning, buried power and fluidtransmission lines, construction zones, surveying sites, flood warning,fire zone warnings, blasting zones and the like.

2. Prior Art Statement

Previous attempts to provide a marker for breach lanes through aminefield have resulted in at least two such markers known as the AirImplacement Marker (AIM) and the Impulse Cartridge Method (ICM). The ICMconsists of a barrel assembly for accepting the pole like marker and ashell chamber for receiving an explosive shell. The pole like marker isadapted to be driven into the substrate to be marked, such as theground, by firing the explosive shell within the chamber creating adriving force behind a top end of the pole like marker. Althoughsuitable for earthen emplacement, utilization upon harder surfaces suchas roadways is impossible. Furthermore, emplacement from the air, suchas by helicopter, cannot be effected. Similar disadvantages exist withthe Air Implacement Marker which is driven into the substrate to bemarked by a short duration blast of a highly compressible fluid such asair. The AIM are small diameter fiberglass poles having a reflectivesurface upon a portion of the length of the marker pole. These poles aresubject to easy breakage during the emplacement process as the markerpole bends upon impact with the substrate when fired from a movingvehicle and fractures along stress lines within the fiberglass pole.Therefore, a significant need exists for a marker system employingmarkers which are adapted to stand upright upon contact with thesubstrate to be marked and which may be deployed from a moving vehicle.

It is known to provide a single hazard marker such as a road safetymarker having three legs bound together at the top thereof and atanother location thereon with a lighting housing atop the three legs.For instance, see the Design U.S. Pat. No. 389,078 issued on Jan. 13,1998 to Freeman, et al.

Additionally, it is also known to provide a single hazard marker such asan emergency warning flag system to mark areas for use solely byemergency vehicles comprising a flag pole with a flag secured to theupper end thereof, a base unit and an attachment means extendingdownwardly from the base unit for securement to a ground surface. Forinstance, see the U.S. Pat. No. 5,462,004 issued on Oct. 31, 1995 toClayton E. McGlothin.

It is also known to provide a single hazard marker such as a reflectiveelement comprising a body member having optically reflective means onthe outer surface thereof for attachment to a fence post. For instance,see the U.S. Pat. No. 5,731,895 issued on Mar. 24, 1998 to Owczarzak, etal.

It is also known to provide a single hazard marker such as a trafficsignal marker comprising an unbreakable elongated light transmittingtube containing two manually miscible chemical reactants affixed to abase member comprising first and second support members to maintain thelight in an upright position. For instance, see the U.S. Pat. No.3,933,118 issued on Jan. 20, 1976 to Lyons, et al.

It is yet known to provide a single hazard marker such as a collapsibleroad hazard marker comprising a resilient spiral arm defining acollapsible body having a generally conical shape having an apex with alatch member mounted to the collapsible body at the apex and a basemember for receiving the latch member. For instance, see the U.S. Pat.No. 5,305,705 issued on Apr. 26, 1994 to Greg R. Gagliano.

The prior art describes a single hazard marker system such as a reusableroad hazard warning system comprising an elongated flexible carrierhaving a plurality of road warning elements attached thereto andnormally maintained retracted when the carrier is disposed in a storagemode, the warning elements being erectable when the carrier is payed outupon a road surface. For instance, see the U.S. Pat. No. 4,522,089issued on Nov. 12, 1985 to Thomas P. Mahoney.

Still known is to provide a single hazard marker such as an apparatusfor marking the post-detonation safe area within an explosive terrain,the marking apparatus assembly including a housing means and adapted fordelivery to the area by a remotely launched device, a means for ejectingthe marking apparatus from the launched device, a plurality of markingmeans having means for extending associated therewith within the housingmeans and an initiating means for initiating the extension means by anexternal pressure source. For instance, see the U.S. Pat. No. 4,969,398issued on Nov. 13, 1990 to Neal M. Lundwall.

It is further known to provide a two-stage release self-rightingmechanism for use in erecting a load from a side position to an uprightposition comprising an array of spring legs for attachment to the loadand a pair of primary and secondary releasable holder assemblies. Forinstance, see the U.S. Pat. No. 5,069,136 issued on Dec. 3, 1991 toAxelson, et al.

Another known single hazard marker is a deployable lane markercomprising a base, an illuminator and a frangible bracket releasablyholding the illuminator in a lowered position on the base. For instance,see the U.S. Pat. No. 5,592,898 issued on Jan. 14, 1997 to John G.Korpl.

It is also known to provide an apparatus for deploying single hazardmarkers from a self-propelled land vehicle comprising at least onevertical shaft adapted to hold a stack of foldable markers in a foldedposition, a delivery gate at the lower end thereof, a means associatedwith the shaft for biasing the stack of markers toward the deliverygate, means associated with the gate for sequentially releasing markers.For instance, see the U.S. Pat. No. 4,747,515 issued on May 31, 1988 toKasher, et al.

It is further known to identify certain hazards by spectroscopy. Forinstance, see the article by Caffrey, et al., “Chemical Warfare Agentand High Explosive Identification by Spectroscopy of Neutron-InducedGamma Rays”, IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, Vol. 39, No. 5.

Also known is to detect certain biological hazards using a surfacetransverse wave resonator. For instance, see the article by McGowan, etal., “Biological Agent Detector using a Surface Transverse WaveResonator Preliminary Report”, 1994 IEEE MTT-S Digest, TU4D-4.

It is further known to neutralize CW agents. For instance see thearticle by Yu-Chu Yang,“Chemical Reactions for Neutralising ChemicalWarfare Agents” published in the 1 May 1995 issue of Chemistry &Industry, Vol. 8, pp 334-337.

Known sensors and circuits are described in the book by Joseph J. Carr,Sensors and Circuits published by Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.,1993

It is known to detect mines in a mine field with electronic means. Forinstance, see the article by Earp, et al.,“Ultra Wideband GroundPenetrating Radar for Detection of Buried Metallic Mines”, appearing inIEEE AES Systems, September 1996, Vol. 11, No.9.

Finally, it is known to detect mines in a mine field by an airborneminefield detection and reconnaissance system. For instance, see thearticle by Andre G. Lareau, “Flight Performance of an Airborne MinefieldDetection and Reconnaissance System”, Photogrammetric Engineering &Remote Sensing, Vol 57, No. 2, Feburary 1991, pp 173-178.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide a multiple hazard markingsystem comprising a deployment vehicle, a deployment surface, aplurality of multiple hazard markers and means to deploy the multiplehazard markers carried by the deployment vehicle, each multiple hazardmarker having a means for standing erect upon the deployment surface, ameans for visibly marking a location on the deployment surface, a meansfor visibly signaling the presence of physical hazards, a means fordetermining the presence of ABC hazards and a means for communicating.

A further object of this invention is to provide a multiple hazardmarker system consisting of at least one multiple hazard marker, adeployment vehicle, a communication system, a deployment surface and ameans for deploying the multiple hazard marker, the multiple hazardmarker comprising a surface engaging portion, an upper portion and acentral portion, a means for remaining erect when deployed associatedwith the surface engaging portion, a means for marking a position upon afield where deployed associated with the upper portion, a means forcollapsing or expanding associated with the central portion, a means forsignaling, a means for activating associated with the means forsignaling and a means for transmitting associated with the means foractivating wherein the means for deploying the multiple hazard markercomprises a means for collapsing the multiple hazard marker, a means forretaining the multiple hazard markers contained therein and at least onemeans for releasing the multiple hazard marker.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a multiple hazardmarking system which may be deployed by aircraft for marking theboundaries of a minefield wherein the mines in the field have beendetected by ground penetrating radar or a thermal signature.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a multiple hazardmarker having means to remain erect on an even or uneven surface whendeployed, the means to remain erect associated with a surface engagingportion and comprising a plurality of deployable leg elements the legelements having means for engaging the deployment surface.

It is another object of this invention to provide a multiple hazardmarker having a self aligning mounting to align the mast vertically upondeployment and a plurality of deployable leg elements each journeyed ina mounting plate in the central portion and extending therefrom, the legelements having ground engaging spike like elements associatedtherewith.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a multiple hazardmarker having means for visibly marking a location on the deploymentsurface that comprises at least one luminous device such as anilluminating means and/or a luminescent or fluorescent material and/orsignal flags affixed to a top portion of the multiple hazard marker.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a multiple hazardmarker which is at least five feet in height for easy detection byground based personnel or vehicles.

It is an object of this invention to provide a multiple hazard markerhaving spring actuated legs upon deployment from a deployment cartridge.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a multiplehazard marker system having means for communicating including means forreceiving radio frequency signals from remote transmitters, the meansfor communicating receiving information from a station remote from themultiple hazard markers deployed on a field, at least one of the remotetransmitters associated with the deployment vehicle.

Additionally, it is an object of this invention to provide a multiplehazard marker having means for signaling the presence of said ABChazards wherein the means for signaling comprises means for changing thecolor of a luminous device associated with the multiple hazard markerand/or transmit information to a station remote from the multiple hazardmarkers deployed on a field.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a multiple hazardmarker which can be reprogrammed from a station remote from the multiplehazard markers deployed on a field.

Yet a further object of this invention to provide a multiple hazardmarker system wherein a multiple hazard marker of the system has acanister associated with one end of the mast thereof having means whichcan detect, and/or quantify and/or qualify atomic, biological and/orchemical hazards, the multiple hazard marker further having means forcommunicating comprising means for electronically transmitting toxicitylevels and/or means for visibly signaling the presence of the ABChazards.

Still a further object of this invention to provide a multiple hazardmarker which may be deployed seriatim to mark at least one edge of alane through a hazardous field from a deployment vehicle such as amilitary tank moving at a speed of up to fifteen kilometers per hour,the multiple hazard markers being deployed from either side of the tank,the multiple hazard markers standing and remaining erect upon thedeployment surface after deployment.

It is another object of this invention to provide a multiple hazardmarker system having multiple deployments from an automated, rotarycarousel magazine having multiple rows of multiple hazard markercartridges mounted therein, the carousel having means for rotating,stopping and deploying associated therewith.

Finally, it is an object of this invention to provide a multiple hazardmarker which is deployed by gravity from a deployment vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the multiple hazardmarker system of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the multiplehazard marker deployed upon a field to be marked.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial cross sectional view of the cartridgeutilized in the multiple hazard marker system of FIG. 1 having amultiple hazard marker in a stowed position therein

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the multiple hazard marker of the multiplehazard marking system of FIG.1 having the central portion on sheet 4 a,the mast of the multiple hazard marker on sheet 4 b and one of the legson sheet 4 c.

FIG. 5 is a top plan section view of the release mechanism of themultiple hazard marker system of FIG. 1 taken along line 5—5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a signal device utilized in the multiplehazard marker of the multiple hazard marker system of this invention.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the means for deploying themultiple hazard marker of the multiple hazard marker system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the preferred multiple hazardmarker of the multiple hazard marking system of FIG. 1 having thecentral portion on sheet 8 a, the mast of the multiple hazard marker onsheet 8 b and one of the legs on sheet 8 c.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the preferred multiple hazard marker ofthis invention shown in the collapsed state for loading into thedeployment cartridge of the multiple hazard marking system of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter describedand illustrated as a multiple hazard marker system consisting of amultiple hazard marker, a deployment surface and a means for deployingthe multiple hazard marker, wherein the multiple hazard marker comprisesa surface engaging portion, an upper portion and a central portion, ameans for remaining erect when deployed associated with the surfaceengaging portion, a means for marking a position upon a field wheredeployed associated with the upper portion, a means for collapsing orexpanding associated with the central portion, a means for signaling, ameans for activating associated with the means for signaling and a meansfor transmitting associated with the means for activating and the meansfor deploying the multiple hazard marker comprising a means forcollapsing the multiple hazard marker, a means for retaining themultiple hazard marker and a means for releasing the multiple hazardmarker, it is to be understood that the various features of thisinvention can be used singly or in various combinations thereof in asystem of marking a position upon a deployment surface and/or indicatingthe presence of hazardous conditions therearound as can hereinafter beappreciated from a reading of the following description. For instance,the multiple hazard marker of this invention may be as depicted in FIGS.4a, 4 b, and 4 c or may be as shown in FIGS. 8a, 8 b and 8 c or acombination thereof. Furthermore, the showing of the embodiments in thefigures is merely representative of the myriad of multiple hazardmarkers which can be constructed to accomplish the purposes of thisinvention and this invention is not to be limited in the scope by thefigures presented.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the multiple hazard marker system generallydescribed by the numeral 150 consists of a means for deploying themultiple hazard marker mounted upon a ground engaging deployment vehicle160, means for deploying 100 having at least one multiple hazard markertherein. As best observed in FIG. 7, means for deploying 100 comprises amounting bracket 103 generally horizontally disposed for mounting upondeployment vehicle 160, however, means for deploying 100 may be alteredto allow mounting bracket 103 to be disposed in any other orientation asrequired by the structure of deployment vehicle 160. Mounting bracket103 comprises a channel 102, a mounting bar 101 and attachment pins 104,channel 102 having openings 105 and mounting bar 101 having openings 106respectively, openings 105 and 106 adapted to receive attachment pins104 therein. Channel 102 is adapted to slide longitudinally alongmounting bar 101 for extending or retracting means for deploying 100therealong in order to place means for deploying 100 at further orcloser orientations to an edge 161 of deployment vehicle 160. Threemounting openings 105, 106 are shown in each of channel 102 and mountingbar 101 respectively, however, it is to be understood that openings 105and/or 106 may be disposed along the entire length of channel 102 ormounting bar 101 to provide for a greater number of longitudinalorientations.

In FIG. 7, a cartridge tube 120 is affixed to the terminal end 107 ofchannel 102 in an orientation to provide for vertical deployment ofmultiple hazard marker therefrom. Cartridge tube 120 is mounted at aright angle to channel 102 as channel 102 is adapted to slidehorizontally along mounting bar 101 atop deployment vehicle 160. Channel102 is shown oriented downwardly with the majority of the closed endremoved for clarity, however open channel 108 may be upwardly orientedor toward either side as well. Cartridge tube 120 is permanently fixedto terminal end 107 and has a lower end 121 disposed slightly below thelower surface 158 of mounting bar 101 such that lower end 121 is locatedabove a deployment surface 90 at least the length of a deployed multiplehazard marker. Referring also to FIG. 3, cartridge tube 120 is generallytubular having a diameter 123, an upper end 122 and a length 124 betweenlower end 121 and upper end 122. Length 124 is generally at least thelength of a collapsed multiple hazard marker such as multiple hazardmarker 10, 10A shown therein such that the multiple hazard marker 10,10A assumes a vertical orientation within cartridge 120. Therefore,length 124 is at least three feet and may be more than five feet, and inthe embodiment shown in FIGS. 8a, 8 b and 8 c cartridge may have morethan one multiple hazard marker 10A held therein ready for deploymenttherefrom. As cartridge 120 stands upright in a vertical orientation,upright standards 110 and angled support braces 109 are affixed tochannel 102, upright standards 110 extending upwardly at a right anglefrom each upright edge 111, 112 of channel 102 a portion of length 124of cartridge 120. Angled support braces 109 are disposed at an angle tochannel 102 and affixed to pads 116 fixed in turn to upright edges 111,112 at one end 113 thereon and to upright standards 110 near an oppositeend 115 thereof, ends 115 extending alongside cartridge 120 and furtherbeing affixed thereto. A support 117 may be affixed to upright standards110 at the upper ends 118 thereof, ends 115 of angled support braces 109protruding through holes 114 in support 117. Support 117 generallyextends above upper ends 118 of upright standards 110 providing moresupport to cartridge 120.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the embodiment shown on the right side ofdeployment vehicle 160 in FIG. 1, a military tank, must be reloadedafter deployment of the multiple hazard marker 10, 10A therein, however,an automated deployment device 165 shown on the left side of deploymentvehicle 160 having a plurality of means for deploying 100 arranged in acircular fashion about a central point 157 forming a carousel 164 may beemployed to deploy a plurality of multiple hazard markers 10, 10A insequential fashion. Carousel 164 is shown on the left side of deploymentvehicle 160 and may contain up to one hundred means for deploying 100,carousel 164 rotating an angular amount equal to the angular distancebetween the center lines 162 of each means for deploying 100 for eachmultiple hazard marker 10, 10A to be deployed. Carousel 164 has acontrol and drive mechanism 159 to control the rotation thereof and fixeach sequential means for deploying 100 in a deployment positionapproximating the deployment position of the single means for deploying100 shown on the right side of deployment vehicle 160. Of course,multiple circular rows 163 of means for deploying 100 may be providedfor in carousel 164 by reducing the number of means for deploying 100for each successive inwardly disposed row 163. Cartridge tube 120 hasboth ends 121, 122 open for ease of loading and deploying of multiplehazard markers 10, 10A and due to the height of the tank, the lower end121 is disposed approximately seven feet above deployment surface 90.

The preferred embodiment of the marker of this invention is adapted tobe deployed in a collapsed condition and ready to expand vertically andhorizontally on alighting upon deployment surface 90. Thus, the marker10A shown in FIGS. 8a, 8 b, 8 c and 9, when deployed from cartridge tube120 of means for deploying 100, has a means for expanding 12A associatedwith a central portion 13A, a means for remaining erect 14A associatedwith a surface engaging portion 15A, means for expanding 12A allowingfor vertical expansion of an upper portion 17A and horizontal expansionof the means to remain erect 14A as will hereinafter be fully explained.Multiple hazard marker 10A shown in FIGS. 8a, 8 b & 8 c may be loaded ina cartridge 120 having multiple release mechanisms 119 for holdingseveral multiple hazard markers 10A therein, each marker 10A being in acollapsed state and being deployed by gravity from lower end 121.

Multiple hazard marker 10A of FIG. 9 has an upper portion shown in FIG.8b generally described by the numeral 17A, a central portion in FIG. 8agenerally described by the numeral 13A and a surface engaging portion inFIG. 8c generally described by the numeral 15A. Upper portion 17Acomprises an elongated mast 18A having an upper end 19A and a lower end20A and is generally a hollow tube in several sections, each sectionapproximately one foot long, the uppermost section 18A′ having anoutside surface 28A, a bore 29A′, outside surface 28A being threaded onterminal end 238. Elongated mast 18A is adapted to be extended to alength substantially equal to the sum of the lengths of the individualsections and in this preferred embodiment is substantially equal to fivetimes the length of uppermost section 18A′ as measured from terminal end238 to lower end 239. Lowermost section 18A″ is threaded on both endsthereof, threads 214 on lower end 20A being threadedly received in aspherical bearing or gimbal to be hereinafter described, lower end 239further has a hole 218 disposed therethrough for accepting a roll pin219 therein. Roll pin 219 is inserted into hole 218 and a hole 221 instud 232 of counterweight 87A after assembly of mast 18A and insertionof a compression spring 220 through the hollow portions of each sectionof mast 18A. Uppermost section 18A′ carries a means for marking 16Awhich may comprise a luminescent or phosphorescent coating 22A on aportion 21A of outside surface 28A for ready recognition in darkenvirons, and/or the identification flag 155 of FIG. 4b having indicia156 thereupon, and may further comprise a lighting lens 24A of means forsignaling 36 of FIG. 6 affixed to terminal end 23A, lighting lens 24Ailluminated by one of electrically actuated light bulbs 32, bulbs 32providing a constant source rather than a pulsating strobe for enhanceduse in limited visibility. Means for marking 16A is readily observed bypersonnel on foot or in vehicles as terminal end 23A is adapted to bedisposed at least five feet above deployment surface 90.

Lower end 20A of lowermost section 18A″ of mast 18A has a counterweight87A associated therewith, counterweight 87A shown in FIG. 8a providing arighting moment to elongated mast 18A thus making mast 18A alwayssubstantially vertical after multiple hazard marker 10A is fullydeployed upon deployment surface 90. Referring to FIG. 8a, mast 18A issupported in a spherical bearing or gimbal 51A mounted in a mountingbore 76A disposed in a top plate 38A and press fit thereinto.Counterweight 87A may be a solid metallic mass and is typically aboutthree inches in diameter and four inches in length. One end is taperedand at the juncture of the taper a cushion 210 is provided. On one end233, stud 232 is substantially the same diameter as inner bore 29A oflowermost section 18A″ of mast 18A with threads 235 on an opposite endthereof for being threaded into threaded bore 89A opposite the taperedend of counterweight 87A. Counterweight 87A is preferably made of steelbut may be brass, lead, cast iron or a thermoplastic material containingcomminuted particles of a metallic material.

As best observed in FIG. 8a, central portion 13A comprises top plate38A, substantially conical housing 31A, gimbal 51A, a base mountingplate 50A having ears 58A affixed to the outer curved surface 72Athereof and associated securement parts hereinafter described. In thispreferred embodiment, top plate 38A is flat sheet metal disc having anouter diameter 57A welded to an upper end 148A of conical housing 31A.Conical housing 31A is preferably formed of sheet metal, rolled into aconical shape with the terminal ends of the sheet butt welded to form arigid upright cone as shown. Base mounting plate 50A is a shallowpan-like element also formed of sheet metal and is welded to a lower end147A of conical housing 31A after assembly of all parts of surfaceengaging portion 15A hereinafter described thereonto. Leg slots 39A aredisposed within protruding ears 58A, ears 58A generally disposed ninetydegrees apart on outer curved surface 72A though a greater or lessernumber of ears 58A may be affixed thereto for accepting a greater orlesser number of legs 37A. Only two ears 58A are shown in FIG. 8a forclarity. Leg pins 41A are adapted to be disposed through leg pin holes40A which are formed perpendicular to leg slots 39A through lobes 60A ofears 58A and thus legs 37A are journaled therein. Leg pin holes 40A passcompletely through lobes 60A such that leg pins 41A may be inserted fromeither lobe 60A through leg 37A and pivot sleeve 43A into the oppositelobe 60A thereby pivotally attaching legs 37A to base mounting plate50A. Leg pin holes 40A may be counter bored in one of lobes 60A foraccepting a socket head cap screw 61 of FIG. 4a therein as leg pin 41A,socket head cap screw 61 having a threaded portion 63 and a head portion64, head portion 64 adapted to be seated in the counter bore whenthreaded portion 63 is disposed through leg holes 40A, pivot sleeve 43Aand leg 37A into a threaded portion 65A of leg pin hole 40A. In thepreferred embodiment, threaded portion 65A is omitted and leg hole 40Ais a smooth bore through both lobes 60A. When used, socket head capscrews 61 have mating nuts 180 threaded onto threaded portion 63thereof, nuts 180 disposed against an outer edge 178A of one lobe 60Awhile head portion 64 bears against outer edge 178A of the other lobe60A. Carriage bolts or machine bolts having a head portion 64 and athreaded portion 65 may also be used in place of socket head cap screws61. Similarly, a fixed diameter pin may be inserted therein and peenedon either or both ends fixing same in pivot hole 40A in lobes 60A.

Top plate 38A has upper surface 66A and lower surface 67A, with amounting hole 76A bored through from upper surface 66A to lower surface67A on centerline 53A for receiving gimbal 51A therein. Mounting hole76A is substantially larger in diameter than the outside diameter 78A oflowermost section 18A″ of mast 18 but is substantially the same diameteras mounting sleeve 224 of gimbal 51A for press fitting gimbal 51Athereinto. Since mounting hole 76A is substantially larger in diameterthan lowermost section 18A″ of mast 18A, mast 18A is readily tiltableand rotatable therewithin after assembly of multiple hazard marker 10A.

Gimbal 51A has a threaded hole 75A substantially the same diameter asouter diameter 78A of lowermost section 18A″ of mast 18A through itsgeographic center for threadedly receiving mast 18A therein. Typically,gimbal 51A is a spherical bearing mounted in a mounting sleeve 224,mounting sleeve 224 adapted to frictionally engage bore 76A in top plate38A. As gimbal 51A is free to rotate within mounting sleeve 224, mast18A always assumes a vertical orientation without regard to the contourof deployment surface 90.

Referring again to FIGS. 8a, 8 b and 8 c, multiple hazard marker 10A isassembled by first press fitting gimbal mount 224 into top plate 38A,threading lower end 20A of mast 18A into and through threaded bore 75Ain gimbal 51A such that hole 218 through lowermost mast portion 18A″ isaccessible below gimbal 51A. Compression spring 220 is inserted intobore 29A of mast 18A fully extending mast 18A. Stud 232 is then insertedinto lower end 20A mast 18A and roll pin 219 is driven through holes 218and 221 affixing stud 232 to mast 18A below gimbal 51A. Top plate 38A iswelded to upper end 148A of housing 31A before assembly of counterweightupon lower end 20A of mast 18A.

Referring now to FIG. 8b, mast 18A comprises several short sectionsbeginning with the largest diameter piece, lowermost section 18A″ andterminating in the smallest diameter piece, uppermost section 18A′, allthese sections joined together in a manner well known in the art suchthat mast 18A may be telescopically extended to its full height withoutthe individual sections becoming separated. Uppermost section 18A′ hasthreads 237 upon its terminal end 238 for receiving an instrumenthousing 234 thereon. Bore 29A′ in uppermost section 18A′ is slightlysmaller than the outside diameter of compression spring 220 such thatcompression spring 220 bears against the lower end 239 thereof allowingfor full extension of mast 18A. Mast latch mount 216 is slipped overterminal end 238 of uppermost mast section 18A′ aligning threaded hole247 with threads 213 and threaded upon threads 213 on lowermost mastsection 18A″. Mast latches 240 are pinned to mast latch mount 216 withlatch pins 241 passing through latch pin holes 242 in mast latch mount216 and hole 243 in latch 240. Mast latch 240 may be biased outwardlyfrom mast 18A with a biasing element 95 similar to spring 96 shown inFIG. 8c wrapped around latch pin 241 with ends 201 and 202 associatedwith latch mount 216 and latch 240 respectively. Threaded hole 247 inmast latch plate 215 is aligned with threads 237 upon terminal end 238of uppermost mast section 18A′ and then threaded thereon leaving aportion of threads 237 visible above mast latch plate 215 for mountinginstrument housing 234 thereon. Mast latch plate 215 and mast latchmount 216 are formed from flat plates of metal and are substantiallyequal in size. Slots 244 are machined into each end of each plate withlatch pin holes 242 cross bored through the ends thereof adapted to havelatch pins 241 inserted therein. Latch pins 241 are typically one inchlong, one quarter inch diameter roll pins and are inserted into latchpin holes 242 in mast latch plate 215 for receiving latch 240 thereon.Slots 244 in mast latch plate 215 are aligned with slots 244 in mastlatch mount 216 and set screws 245 are threaded into cross bored holes246 in mast latch plate 215 and mast latch mount 216 to maintainalignment of slots 244. Mast 18A may then be compressed to its shortestheight, substantially equal to the length of lowermost mast section 18A″with latches 240 being registered with latch pins 241 in mast latchplate 215 to retain mast 18A in a compressed condition. Latches 240 areformed from flat bar stock and are identical to leg latch 217 without aprotruding latch finger 262.

Upper end 19A of mast 18A is then fitted with an instrument housing 234by threading instrument housing 234 upon threaded end 237 of uppermostsection 18A′. Instrument housing 234 is formed as a hollow sphere in twomating halves adapted to be threaded together. One half has a threadedhole 236 to be received onto threads 237 of upper most section 18A′ ofmast 18A. Instrument housing 234 has circuit board 91 of FIG. 6 mountedtherein, circuit board 91 having electronic integrated circuitry,sensing elements, light bulbs, receivers and transmitters. Circuit board91 may receive power for transmission by absorbing power from theinitial detected received transmission through inductive coupling. If itis desired to provide communication between instrument housing 234 andhousing 31A, connecting wires may be threaded through bore 29A of mast18A from instrument housing 234 to housing 31A, these wires assuming acoil like structure when mast 18A is compressed and exiting mast 18Aabove the end of stud 232 through a hole provided in lower end 20A oflowermost mast section 18A″. Instrument housing 234 contains means formarking 16A a location on deployment surface 90, means for marking 16Acomprising a means for visibly signaling the presence of physicalhazards by signal flags 155 affixed to marker 10A and/or at least oneluminous device 24A associated therewith, means for determining thepresence of ABC hazards and a means for communicating, the means forcommunicating including a means for receiving radio frequency signalsfrom remote transmitters and/or a means for electronically transmittingtoxicity levels of said ABC hazards to remote transceivers. The meansfor signaling the presence of said ABC hazards may also comprise a meansfor changing the color of the luminous device 24A associated with saidmarker 10A. The short-range wireless transceivers are capable of sendingan identifying code and several multiplexed data streams. Thetransceivers operate at lowpower (less than 2 W), overshort-to-intermediate range (˜1 km minimum goal), are capable of beingcarried in the pocket of a battle dress uniform and are commerciallyavailable off the-shelf components. In the preferred embodiment of themarker system 150 of this invention, at least one of the remotetransceivers is associated with deployment vehicle 160. When flag 155 isused on marker 10A, uppermost mast section 18A′ functions as a flagcarrying tube, flag 155 affixed around the outer periphery 28A thereofand secured upon itself with the hook and loop fastener associated withflag 155.

Base mounting plate 50A is a shallow like pan structure and comprises aflat base disc 222 and an upright peripheral wall 223 welded thereto.Flat base disc 222 has inside surface 70A and bottom surface 71A. Ears58A are welded to outer curved surface 72A of upright wall 223, ears 58Aprotruding outwardly therefrom. A series of foot holes 253 arranged inradial rows are disposed through flat base disc 222 for receiving feet48A therein.

Referring now to FIG. 8c, preferably, legs 37A are cut to length from asection of {fraction (3/4″)} square tubing having a wall thickness of{fraction (1/16″)} and have pivot tongues 207 welded to opposite sidesthereof, pivot tongues 207 formed from {fraction (1/18″)} thick flatmetal strips and extending beyond the end of the section of squaretubing. Pivot tongues 207 have pivot holes 208 disposed therethrough forreceiving leg pins 41A therein at assembly of legs 37A. On the surface249 of pivot end 45A opposite pivot tongues 207, a steel pivot lug 248is welded, pivot lug 248 having a leg pivot hole 184A disposedtherethrough for receiving a brass pivot bushing 43A. Legs 37A aremounted in slots 39A shown in FIG. 8a, and are pinned thereto utilizingleg pins 41A. Each leg 37A has a pivot sleeve 43A disposed through a leghole 184A bored through pivot lug 248 of leg 37A adjacent a pivot end45A thereof, sleeve 43A press fitted therein and extending completelythrough pivot lug 248, sleeve 43A having a length substantially the sameas the distance between lobes 60A. Pivot sleeve 43A provides for easyassembly of legs 37A into slots 39A. Legs 37A are generally square butmay be circular, triangular or any other cross sectional shape. Thediameter of pivot holes 84A through sleeves 43A is substantially thesame as the diameter of leg pins 41A allowing for free movement thereon.Leg 37A is biased outwardly away from base mounting plate 50A by aspring 96 wound around sleeves 43A with end 201 disposed within leg 37Aand end 202 disposed against outer curved surface 72A. Opposite pivotend 45A of leg 37A is an articulated leg extension 204, leg extension204 biased in an outward direction by another spring 96 wound aroundsleeves 43A with end 202 disposed within leg 37A and end 201 disposedwithin leg extension 204 and adapted to be disposed along the same axisas leg 37A. Leg extensions 204 are also cut to length from a section of{fraction (3/4″)} square tubing having a wall thickness of {fraction(1/16″)} and have one end 227 rounded terminating in curved surfaces226, end 227 cross drilled with a pivot hole 205. Springs 96 allow leg37A and leg extension 204 to flex upwardly on an uneven deploymentsurface 90. Leg extension 204 is prevented from moving beyond a straightline extension of leg 37A by a stop pin 225 welded across pivot tongues207 of leg 37A, stop pin 225 bearing against the lower surface 250 ofleg extension 204 at the juncture of curved surface 226 and lowersurface 250. At assembly, leg pin 41A affixes leg extension 204 to leg37A by first passing through one pivot hole 208 in leg 37A then throughone pivot hole 205 of leg extension 204 then through spring 96 andfinally through the other pivot holes 205, 208. Socket head cap screws61 may be used as leg pins 41A, socket head cap screws 61 having nuts180 affixed to the threaded portion 63, head portion 64 of cap screw 61bearing against surface 228 and nut 180 bearing against surface 229 ofleg 37A. Each of leg 37A and leg extension 204 have a plurality of toes49A associated therewith. Toes 49A are affixed to outer surfaces 230 ofleg 37A and 231 of leg extension 204 for positive engagement withdeployment surface 90. Toes 49A are pointed such that toes 49A penetratedeployment surface 90 thereby establishing firm engagement for multiplehazard marker 10A. Toes 49A are conical arrow point elements having apoint 98A at one end and a threaded portion 209 at the opposite endthereof. Toes 49A are generally threaded into toe holes 206 provided inouter surfaces 230 and 231 of leg 37A and leg extension 204respectively.

Referring again to FIG. 8a, a skid plate 99 is formed from a flat pieceof sheet metal having an up-turned peripheral edge 251 forming a shallowlipped open pan. Edge 251 extends beyond the outer curved surface 72A ofbase mounting plate 50A and is angled upwardly from the plane of theflat sheet by 45 degrees. Skid plate 99 is biased away from basemounting plate 50A for absorbing shock for multiple hazard marker 10Awhen deployed upon deployment surface 90. A series of feet 48A arewelded to skid plate 99 on an inside surface 252 thereof at the samespacing and radial arrangement as the arrangement foot holes 253 in basemounting plate 50A. Feet 48A have upper end 200A threaded whilst end 212is machined square for welding to skid plate 99. Springs 190A areprovided over feet 48A after feet 48A are welded to skid plate 99. Feet48A are then aligned with foot holes 253 in base mounting plate 50Ahaving threaded portion 211 extending therethrough. Nuts 180 are affixedto threaded portions 211 of feet 48A thereby affixing skid plate 99 tobase mounting plate 50A. Feet 48A are adapted to move freely throughfoot holes 253 thus providing for the aforementioned shock absorbingcapabilities. Skid plate 99 also has toe holes 254 disposed into theexterior surface 255 thereof, toe holes 254 adapted to threadedlyreceive toes 49A therein for aggressively gripping deployment surface 90when alighting thereupon. Toe holes 254 are spaced from the locations ofeach of feet 48A but may be aligned therewith with toes 49A threadinginto feet 48A by providing a threaded hole in each of feet 48A. Thus,surface engaging portion 15A is readied for assembly to central portion13A of marker 10A.

After assembly and until alighting upon deployment surface 90, legs 37Aalong with leg extensions 204 are latched in a folded position upon anouter angled surface 256 of housing 31A. An actuating mechanismgenerally shown in FIG. 8a with numeral 257 is affixed to angled surface256 having an actuating finger 258 adapted to rest upon upturned edge251 of skid plate 99 such that when skid plate 99 moves upon contactwith deployment surface 99, actuating finger 258 causes leg catches 217to release legs 37A and leg extensions 204. Actuating mechanism 257comprises leg catches 217, actuating finger 258, lever arm 259, levermount 260, latch mounts 261, 261′ and latch finger 262; lever mounts 260and latch mounts 261, 261′ welded to angled surface 256 of housing 31A.Latch mounts 261, 261′ have an angled base 263 cut at the same angle asangled surface 256 and are transversely mounted on angled surface 256.One latch mount 261′ is longer than latch mount 261 due to the angledsurface 256. Latch mounts 261, 261′ have pin holes 276, 276′therethrough for receiving a pivot pin 264 therein affixing leg catch217 thereto. Lever mount 260 is also welded to angled surface 256 but isdisposed longitudinally along angled surface 256 and thus has a squarecut base. Leg catch 217 is formed from a flat piece of bar stock and hasa square surface 266 disposed longitudinally and laterally from a pivotpin hole 278, square surface 266 adapted to engage leg extension 204 toretain leg 37A in the folded position. Leg catch 217 also has latchfinger 262 extending away from leg latch 217 adapted to fit within atrip hole 267 in lever arm 259. Lever arm 259 is a flat piece of barstock having one section 268 angled upwardly to space trip hole 267 atthe proper distance to receive latch finger 262 therein. The straightsection 269 of lever arm 259 lies substantially parallel to angledsurface 256 of housing 31A. Lever arm 259 has a central pivot pin hole273 approximately centrally located in the length thereof and oneadditional pin hole 274 located near an end 270 of section 269.Actuating finger 258 is a {fraction (1/18″)} thick flat piece of barstock having a pivot pin hole 275 near an end opposite skid plateengaging surface 271, pivot pin hole 275 adapted to be fitted with apivot pin 264 in engagement with pivot pin hole 274 in end 270 of leverarm 259, skid plate engaging surface 271 adapted to rest upon up-turnededge 251 of skid plate 251. Skid plate engaging surface 271 of actuatingfinger 258 may be welded to upturned edge 251 after assembly of marker10A. After lever mount 260 and latch mounts 261, 261′ have been weldedto angled surface 256, lever arm 259 is pinned to lever mount 260through pivot pin hole 272 in lever mount 260 and the central pivot hole273 with a pivot pin 264 which may be a bolt or peened rivet. Leg latchmounts 261, 261′ are then welded to angled surface 256 spaced from levermount 260 and leg latch 217 pinned thereto with a pivot pin 264.Actuating finger 258 is pinned to lever 259 at lever pin hole 274 with apivot pin 264. Latch finger 262 is then inserted into trip hole 267awaiting folding of legs 37A at final assembly. In FIG. 9, the assembledlatching mechanism 257 is shown holding leg 37A against housing 31A.

Prior to assembly of surface engaging portion 15A with central portion13A, and if desired, additional circuit boards 91 including electronicintegrated circuitry, sensing elements, light bulbs, solar generators,radio receivers and transmitters may be mounted in housing 31A andconnected to wires leading from instrument housing 234. When all onboardequipment is mounted and multiple hazard marker 10A is ready for finalassembly, surface engaging portion 15A comprising skid plate 99, basemounting plate 50A having legs 37A pivotally mounted in ears 58A, isbrought into position below conical housing 37A such that lower end 147Athereof is brought into contact with the top edge 277 of base mountingplate 50A. Lower end 147A may have an internal or external thread formating with a corresponding thread on top edge 277 but preferably, lowerend 147A is welded to top edge 277. Upon assembly of these mating edges,legs 37A are folded upon angled surface 256 of housing 31A and latchedthereto with square surface 266 of actuating mechanism 257 overlying aportion of either leg 37A or leg extension 204 to retain leg 37Athereagainst until multiple hazard marker 10A engages deployment surface90. Upon complete assembly of multiple hazard marker 10A with legs 37Afolded upon angled surface 256 and mast 18A collapsed, the overallheight of marker 10A is approximately two feet and at least two multiplehazard markers 10A may be readied for deployment in each cartridge tube120, each multiple hazard marker 10A resting upon a separate releasemechanism 119.

Multiple hazard marker 10A, when deployed from cartridge 120 fallstoward deployment surface 90 in the fully collapsed state having legcatches 217 retaining legs 37A against angled surface 256 of housing 31Aand mast latches 240 retaining mast in a fully collapsed condition. Asskid plate 99 contacts deployment surface 90, skid plate 99 moves towardbase mounting plate 50A, absorbing the initial shock of the drop fromdeployment cartridge 120, actuating fingers 258 move end 270 of leverarm 259 away from housing 31A causing trip hole 267 to move towardangled surface 256 moving latch finger 262 along therewith therebydetaching square surface 266 from leg 37A or leg extension 204. Legs 37Aand leg extensions 204 spring away from angled surface 256 under forceof springs 96 until toes 49 on legs 37A and leg extensions 204 contactdeployment surface 90. Toes 49 are pointed to firmly engage deploymentsurface 90 and along with toes 49 on skid plate 99 assist in retainingmultiple hazard marker 10A in a fixed position thereon. Upon alightingon deployment surface 90, the weight of instrument housing 234 and mastlatch plate 215 cause a slight rebound in mast 18A causing latches 240to fall away from mast latch plate 215 releasing mast 18A. Spring 190Awithin mast 18A causes mast 18A to fully telescopically expand to itsfull height. Thus, multiple hazard marker 10A extends to its fulldeployment height of approximately two meters. Once deployed upondeployment surface 90, multiple hazard marker 10A may be initialized bya remote transceiver or may be begin its own initialization and samplingsequence having been preset to begin upon deployment.

An alternate embodiment of the multiple hazard marker of this inventionis adapted to be deployed primarily in an already erect orientation.Thus, in the multiple hazard marker 10 shown in FIGS. 4a, 4 b and 4 c,cartridge tube 120 has an end cap 59 affixed to upper end 122 aftermultiple hazard marker 10 is inserted thereinto, end cap 59 depressingflag carrying tube 169, when used, onto mast 18 against a spring 168.The primary purpose of spring 168 is to extend flag carrying tube 169after deployment of multiple hazard marker 10, however, it is readilyapparent from the reading of the following description that multiplehazard marker 10 is predisposed to be deployed sharply downwardly uponrelease of a release mechanism 119 as spring 168 assists gravity bypushing multiple hazard marker 10 from cartridge tube 120. Thus, as willbe apparent from FIGS. 3 and 4, as multiple hazard marker 10 is deployedfrom cartridge tube 120 of means for deploying 100, a means forexpanding 12 associated with a central portion 13 of multiple hazardmarker 10 forms a means for remaining erect 14 associated with a surfaceengaging portion 15 of multiple hazard marker 10 as will hereinafter befully explained. In a similar manner, the multiple hazard marker 10Ashown in FIGS. 8a, 8 b & 8 c may be loaded in a cartridge 120 havingmultiple release mechanisms 119 for holding multiple hazard markers 10Atherein, each multiple hazard marker 10A being in a collapsed state &being deployed by gravity from lower end 121.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, multiple hazard marker 10 has an upperportion in FIG. 4b generally described by the numeral 17, a centralportion in FIG. 4a generally described by the numeral 13 and a surfaceengaging lower portion in FIG. 4c generally described by the numeral 15.Upper portion 17 comprises an elongated mast 18 having an upper end 19and a lower end 20 and is generally a hollow tube having an outsidesurface 28, a bore 29 and a length 30 as measured from terminal end 23to lower end 20. Where used as a simple marker, such as in a minefield,mast 18 may be a solid rod, however, in the preferred embodiment, mast18 is tubular and further has a hole 166 disposed therethrough foraccepting a roll pin 167 therein. Roll pin 167 is inserted into hole 166after assembly of a compression spring 168 and flag carrying tube 169thereupon. Flag carrying tube 169 has a slot 170 disposed through itswall 171, slot 170 extending approximately one half the length thereofhaving a first end 173 spaced above lower end 172 such that slot 170does not breach end 172. Spring 168 is disposed within flag carryingtube 169, upper end 174 of spring 168 adapted to bear against the insideof a closed terminal end 23′ while lower end 175 of spring 168 bearsagainst terminal end 23 of mast 18. Whether used as a simple markerdescribed above or used for one of the multiple uses hereinafterdescribed, upper end 19 carries a means for marking 16 which maycomprise a luminescent or phosphorescent coating 22 on a portion 21 ofoutside surface 28 for ready recognition in dark environs, and/or anidentification flag 155 having indicia 156 thereupon, and may furthercomprise a lighting lens 24, as shown in FIG. 6, of means for signaling36 affixed to terminal end 23 or 23′, lighting lens 24 illuminated byone of electrically actuated light bulbs 32. Flag 155 or indicia 156 mayalso be made luminescent or phosphorescent. Upper end 19 may also havereceiving antenna 25 and transmitting antenna 26 associated therewith,receiving antenna 25 electrically isolated from transmitting antenna 26by insulating sleeve 27, receiving antenna 25 and transmitting antenna26 having functions hereinafter described. Means for marking 16 isreadily observed by personnel on foot or in vehicles as terminal end 23,23′ is adapted to be disposed at least five feet above deploymentsurface 90.

Flag 155 has a hook and loop fastener affixed to one surface 179 thereoffor wrapping about mast 18 or about flag carrying tube 169 and securingthe hook side to the loop side of the hook and loop fastener. Whenemployed, flag carrying tube 169 has luminescent or phosphorescentcoating 22′ on a portion 21′ of outside surface 28′ and may also havereceiving antenna 25′ and transmitting antenna 26′ associated therewith,receiving antenna 25′ electrically isolated from transmitting antenna26′ by insulating sleeve 27′.

Lower end 20 of mast 18 has a counterweight 87 affixed thereto and mayhave an instrument container associated therewith. Counterweight 87provides a righting moment to elongated mast 18, and as best observed inFIG. 2, mast 18 is always substantially vertical after multiple hazardmarker 10 is fully deployed upon deployment surface 90. Referring toFIG. 4a, mast 18 is supported in a spherical bearing or gimbal 51mounted in a mounting bore 76 disposed in a support plate 38 and amounting bore 77 in base mounting plate 50 and attached thereto withflat head cap screws 177. Mast 18 may also be pivotally mounted betweensupport plate 38 and base mounting plate 50 on the centerline 53 ofmultiple hazard marker 10 by counter boring support plate 38 from lowersurface 67 and base mounting plate 50 from upper surface 70 to providefor capture of gimbal 51 therebetween when support plate 38 and basemounting plate 50 are joined together, central portion 13 joining upperportion 17 to surface engaging portion 15.

As best observed in FIG. 4a, central portion 13 comprises support plate38, release base mounting plate 50, gimbal 51, pivot sleeves 43, legpins 41 and associated securement parts hereinafter described. In thisembodiment, support plate 38 is a six sided figure which has an outerdiameter 57 partially cut away to an inner diametral surface 56 andtriangular sides 83 with leg slots 39 disposed within protruding ears58, ears 58 centrally disposed on triangular sides 83. Ears 58 extendfrom triangular sides 83 to outer diameter 57, while leg slots 39 extendfrom outer diameter 57 inwardly beyond inner diametral surface 56substantially to triangular sides 83 such that legs 37 may freely pivotabout leg pins 41. Triangular sides 83 meet at inner diametral surface56 in truncated apices 68. Support plate 38 may alternately be describedas a release plate having ears 58 protruding from sides 83 thereof. Legpins 41 are adapted to be disposed through leg pin holes 40 which areformed perpendicular to leg slots 39 through lobes 60 of ears 58. Legpin holes 40 pass completely through lobes 60 such that leg pins 41 maybe inserted from either lobe 60 through leg 37 and pivot sleeve 43 intothe opposite lobe 60 thereby pivotally attaching legs 37 to supportplate 38. Leg pin holes 40 may be counter bored in one of lobes 60 foraccepting a socket head cap screw 61 therein as leg pin 41, socket headcap screw 61 having a threaded portion 63 and a head portion 64, headportion 64 adapted to be seated in counter bore 62 when threaded portion63 is disposed through leg holes 40, pivot sleeve 43 and leg 37 into athreaded portion 65 of leg pin hole 40. Usually, threaded portion 65 isomitted and leg hole 40 is a smooth bore through both lobes 60. Sockethead cap screws 61 having mating nuts 180 threaded onto threaded portion63 thereof have nuts 180 disposed against an outer edge 178 of one lobe60 while head portion 64 bears against outer edge 178 of the other lobe60. Carriage bolts or machine bolts having a head portion 64 and athreaded portion 65 may also be used in place of socket head cap screws61.

Support plate 38 is disposed superior to base mounting plate 50 andsecured thereto with bolts 52 screwed into threaded holes 54 in basemounting plate 50, bolts 52 disposed through holes 55 in support plate38. In FIG. 4a, base mounting plate 50 is shown separated out of planefrom support plate 38 for clarity. Support plate 38 has upper surface 66and lower surface 67, and has a mounting hole 76 bored through fromupper surface 66 to lower surface 67 on centerline 53 for partiallyreceiving gimbal 51 therein. Mounting hole 76 is substantially larger indiameter than the outside diameter 78 of mast 18 but is substantiallythe same diameter as gimbal 51 for press fitting gimbal 51 thereinto.Since mounting hole 76 is substantially larger in diameter than mast 18,mast 18 is readily rotatable therewithin after assembly of multiplehazard marker 10.

Base mounting plate 50 has its apices 73 rotated 60 degrees from legslots 39 formed into support plate 38 but aligned with apices 68thereof, leg slots 39 extending inwardly from an outer diameter 57 andthereby centrally located along each of sides 69 of base mounting plate50. Apices 73 are curved surfaces 72 corresponding in diameter to innerdiametral surface 56 of support plate 38, curved surfaces 72 extendingbetween ears 58 upon assembly of base mounting plate 50 to support plate38. Base mounting plate 50 has upper surface 70 and bottom surface 71,plate 50 also having a mounting bore 77 formed thereinto on centerline53 for partially receiving gimbal 51 therein. Mounting bore 77 isidentical in diameter to mounting bore 76 and is also adapted to receivegimbal 51 therein in tight fitting relationship. Thus, mounting bore 77is also substantially larger than mast 18 thereby allowing full movementof mast 18 about gimbal 51. Upper surface 70 is adapted to mate withlower surface 67 of support plate 38 and be contiguous therewith forminga continuous bore 76, 77 therein for receiving gimbal 51 therein. Gimbal51 may also be held in bore 76, 77 by flat head cap screws 177 receivedin threaded bores 176 in opposite sides of the mount for gimbal 51.Threaded bore 176 extends completely through the mount having the headsof cap screws 177 threaded from both sides of the mount, the heads ofcap screws 177 extending beyond the outer diameter of the mount forgimbal 51 over a portion of surface 66 of plate 38 and surface 71 ofplate 50 to capture gimbal 51 thereunder. Threaded bores 176 may also bedisposed into plates 38 and 50 having the heads of cap screws 177overlapping the mount for gimbal 51 to capture same thereunder.

Gimbal 51 has a hole 75 substantially the same diameter as outerdiameter 78 of mast 18 through its geographic center for receiving mast18 therethrough and has mast 18 firmly affixed therein. Typically,gimbal 51 is a spherical bearing and may be expanded by heating, or mast18 may be supercooled, prior to sliding mast 18 therein. Thus, hole 75is expanded along with gimbal 51, or mast 18 reduced in diameter, andafter inserting mast 18 to its desired location within gimbal 51, gimbal51 and mast 18 are allowed to return to ambient temperature therebyrigidly affixing gimbal 51 to mast 18. As gimbal 51 is free to rotate,mast 18 always assumes a vertical orientation without regard to thecontour of deployment surface 90.

Referring to FIGS. 4a, 4 b and 4 c, legs 37 are mounted in slots 39 andare pinned thereto utilizing leg pins 41. Each leg 37 has a pivot sleeve43 disposed through a leg hole 184 bored through leg 37 adjacent a pivotend 45 thereof, sleeve 43 press fitted therein and extending completelythrough leg 37 beyond outer surface 81, sleeve 43 having a lengthsubstantially the same as the distance between lobes 60. Pivot sleeve 43strengthens leg 37 at its mounting location and provides for easyassembly of legs 37 into slots 39. Legs 37 are generally circular butmay be square, triangular or any other cross sectional shape. Thediameter of pivot holes 84 through sleeves 43 is substantially the sameas the diameter of leg pins 41 allowing for free movement thereon.Opposite pivot end 45 of leg 37 is a deployment surface engaging end 44having a foot 48 associated therewith. Foot 48 may further have at leastone spike like element such as toe 49 thereon for positive engagementwith deployment surface 90. Toe 49 may be pointed such that toe 49penetrates deployment surface 90 thereby establishing a firm releasebase for multiple hazard marker 10. Leg 37 may further be fitted with anend cap 85 in pivot end 45, end cap 85 having a vent 197 providedtherein, vent 197 may further have vent tube 198 disposed thereinproviding release of entrapped air within leg 37 upon alighting upondeployment surface 90. Foot 48 of leg 37 is spring loaded within leg 37for absorbing shock for multiple hazard marker 10 when deployed upondeployment surface 90. Foot 48 is generally a solid shaft of a diameterto pass freely within leg 37, foot 48 having a slot 187 in its lower end199 adapted to receive toe 49 therein. Foot 48 is fitted onto leg 37through a hole 189 in cap sleeve 188 and held thereon by an enlargedsleeve bushing 183, bushing 183 larger than hole 189 in cap sleeve 188.Bushing 183 is shrink fitted upon foot 48 in a manner similar to thatknown to affix gimbal 51 onto mast 18. Toe 49 is held onto lower end 199of foot 48 by roll pins 181 driven through holes 186 in foot 48 andholes 185 through toe 49. Toe 49 is an arrow point 182, a flat piece ofmetal having a point 98. Leg 37 has a spring 190 disposed in bore 97with upper end 192 bearing against pivot sleeve 43 and lower end 191bearing against bushing 183. When loaded in cartridge 120, foot 48typically has very little preload upon spring 192 as spring 190 has afree length substantially equal to the distance from leg pin 41 tobushing 183. Bushing 183 is substantially the same external diameter asbore 97 and thus has a sliding fitting relationship therewith providingshock absorbing capabilities upon deployment of multiple hazard marker10. As is readily apparent, bushing 183 has a frictional slidingengagement with bore 97 providing some shock absorbing, but cooperateswith vent 197 in end cap 85 to provide pneumatic shock absorbing aswell. Therefore, when foot 48 engages deployment surface 90, entrappedair within leg 37 is controllably released through vent 197 providingthe aforementioned pneumatic shock absorbing capabilities. The diameterof vent 197 and or vent tube 198 may be altered to provide more or lessshock absorbing as is well known in the art. Furthermore, vent tubes 198of each of legs 37 may be interconnected to provide for greater shockabsorbing capabilities especially when one at least one of legs 37engages deployment surface 90 in advance of another of legs 37 thuscreating a positive pressure atop bushings 183.

Referring again to FIGS. 4a, 4 b and 4 c, multiple hazard marker 10 isassembled by shrink fitting gimbal 51 onto mast 18 spaced from lower end20 approximately one fourth the length 30 of mast 18 and affixingsupport plate 38 to base mounting plate 50 with screws 52 passed throughholes 55 in support plate 38 and screwed into holes 54 in base mounting15 plate 50. Upper end 19 of mast 18 is then inserted through mountinghole 76, 77 from surface 71 of base mounting plate 50 having gimbal 51aligned with mounting hole 76, 77 and press fitted therein. Housing 31is affixed to lower end 20 of mast 18 by threading a counterweight 87upon a threaded portion 88 of lower end 20 and affixing housing 31thereto. Counterweight 87 is a significant mass and may be utilizedalone to provide the righting moment for mast 18 or may be utilized withhousing 31 as counterweight 87 has means thereupon for mountingelectronic integrated circuitry, sensing elements, light bulbs,receivers and transmitters and has a threaded bore 89 aligning with bore29 of mast 18 for passing wiring or sensing tubing therethrough.

Referring now to FIG. 6, lighting lens 24 may comprise separate bulbs ofdifferent colors, such as red, green and yellow having separate wiresconnected thereto, but as best shown in FIG. 6, lighting lens 24 mayalso be a hemispherically polished end 35 of a fiber optic cable 33having an opposite end 34 divided into separate strands grouped forillumination by separate light bulbs 32, light bulbs 32 controlled bycircuits mounted on integrated circuit boards 91. Light bulbs 32 areeach a different color, one each for red, green or yellow, redsignifying warming, green indicating no hazard or safe, and yellow forhazard. Lighting lens 24 provides significant illumination such that theindicating lights represented by the three colors may be observed fromoutside a hazard warning area and therefore, when no hazard isindicated, may guide personnel and vehicles through a previouslyhazardous area. Of course, when a hazard is indicated by the yellow orred light emitted through lens 24, personnel and vehicles are warnedthereby to avoid the area marked by those multiple hazard markers 10.Other colored lights, including white, may be added to lens 24 byfurther dividing fiber optic cable 33 at end 34 or by having a multiplecolored wheel rotationally indexed for passing before any of light bulbs32. For instance, a white light may be utilized as means for signaling36 to indicate that multiple hazard marker 10, 10A is in a sampling modeor has not yet determined the status of the area being marked.

Optionally, lighting lens 24 may be a separate lamp housing (not shown)similar to housing 31 adapted to be affixed to terminal end 23 of mast18 or terminal end 23′ of flag carrying tube 169. As such, the separatelamp housing may contain separate light bulbs 32 for the distinctindicating colors and also may contain sensors for environmentalsampling for chemical, biological or atmospheric conditions and mayfurther contain a separate set of electronic circuit boards 91 actingindependently of circuit boards 91 in housing 31. An on-boardfeed-forward, back propagation neural network will be integrated intocircuit board 91 and be capable of processing the multiple sensoryoutputs which will allow a single multiple hazard marker 10, 10A tocontinuously monitor for multiple hazards and relay the informationregarding the samples to remote receivers. Thus, multiple hazard marker10, 10A will help to manage and enhance the three principal approachesto mitigation of the military environmental life-cycle-survivabilityissues: detection, warning, and assisting the friendly forces on theground, in the water and in the air.

During assembly of multiple hazard marker 10, polished end 35 of fiberoptic cable 33 is passed through threaded bore 89 into bore 29 of mast18, end 35 terminating just slightly above terminal end 23. Terminal end23 may further have a cover 92 affixed thereto by inserting into bore 29or fitting over outer surface 28 and being secured in fluid tightengagement therewithin or thereonto. Cover 92 is adapted to betransparent such that the signal lights of means for signaling 36emitted by polished end 35 of cable 33 may readily pass therethrough.Ends 34 are fixed in proximity to bulbs 32 or a colored wheel ashereinbefore mentioned upon structure associated with counterweight 87.In like manner, transmitting antenna 26 and receiving antenna 25 areaffixed to upper end 19 such as by winding a wire for each antenna aboutouter surface 28 and electrically isolating one from the other with aninsulating sleeve 27. Receiving antenna 25 is an aluminum or steel tubeidentical to the tube used for mast 18 and, in fact, comprises upper end19 of mast 18 while transmitting antenna 26 is a mid portion 146 of mast18. Insulating sleeve 27 is formed from a thermoplastic material such aspolyethylene, polypropylene or nylon and is greater in outside diameterthan mast 18 and has a bore equal to outside diameter 78 such thatreceiving antenna 25 and transmitting antenna 26 are received therein.Connecting wire for antennas 26, 27 is then routed downwardly insidebore 29 of mast 18 to interconnect with appropriate circuits on circuitboards 91. A portion 21 of upper end 19 of mast 18 is then coated with aphosphorescent or luminescent coating 22. Portion 21 may comprise theentire length of mast 18 but usually a three inch long portion 21 iscoated near terminal end 23 of upper end 19.

When flag carrying tube 169 is desired to be used, tube 169 is selectedto be just slightly larger in internal diameter than the outsidediameter of mast 18 and is therefore slidably engaged thereupon. A slot170 is provided through the wall 171 of tube 169, slot 170 beginningabove a lower end 172 of tube 169 and extending approximately one halfthe length thereof. Slot 170 is of a width to allow free sliding along afixed pin 167 driven through hole 166 in upper end 19 of mast 18. Flag155 is wrapped around flag tube 169 and secured thereto with the hookand loop fastener provided on surface 179 of flag 155. Spring 168 isthen inserted into flag carrying tube 169 and flag tube 169 is fittedaround mast 18 and pressed downwardly thereonto. Roll pin 167 is theninserted through slot 170 into hole 166 extending beyond an outersurface 28′ of flag tube 169. Spring 168 disposed within flag carryingtube 169 has upper end 174 bearing against the inside of a closedterminal end 23′ while lower end 175 of spring 168 bears againstterminal end 23 of mast 18 or roll pin 167. Upon release of flag tube169, tube 169 moves upwardly under pressure of spring 168 engaging rollpin 167 against bottom 173 of slot 170. A portion 21′ of upper end 19′of flag tube 169 may then be coated with a phosphorescent or luminescentcoating 22′. Portion 21′ may comprise the entire length of tube 169 butusually a three inch long portion 21′ is coated near terminal end 23′ ofupper end 19′. Tube 169 may also be transparent such that lighting lens24 may be observed therethrough.

Referring now to FIG. 4c, legs 37 are generally circular tubes having anouter surface 81 and a bore 97 and are at least two feet long fromdeployment surface engaging end 44 to pivot end 45. Each leg 37 isfitted with a foot 48 on deployment surface engaging end 44 by insertingfoot 48 into hole 189 of end cap 188 having end 199 extending outwardlyof leg 37. Foot 48 has previously had bushing 183 shrink fitted upon end200 thereof and after insertion through end cap 188, toe 49 is insertedinto slot 187 and affixed thereto by driving pins 181 through holes 186,185. Spring 190 is inserted into bore 97 and end cap 188 screwed ontoleg 37 with upper end 200 of foot 48 bearing against lower end 191 ofspring 190. In FIGS. 4a, 4 b and 4 c described above, foot 48 isinserted into bore 97 having end cap 188 screwed onto threaded end 196but end cap 188 could, of course, be press fitted into bore 97 orinternally threaded therein.

Now referring to FIG. 4a, legs 37 are each assembled to support plate 38by inserting pivot end 45 into slot 39 with deployment surface engagingend 44 extending away from base mounting plate 50 in the same directionas lower end 20 having counterweight 87 thereupon. Each leg 37 isaffixed to support plate 38 by passing a leg pin 41 through one lobe 60in ear 58, through pivot hole 84 in one side of pivot sleeve 43, intoother lobe 60 and affixing leg pin 41 thereonto by threading nut 180onto threaded portion 63 of leg pin 41. Alternatively, one lobe 60 mayhave pivot hole 40 internally threaded for receiving threaded portion 63of leg pin 41 thereinto. Similarly, leg pin 41 may have a smooth outerperiphery and secured to ears 58 by using a roll pin driven through across bored hole formed through support plate 38 intersecting leg pin 41in a notch formed in leg pin 41. A roll pin would prevent leg pin 41from rotating and from being removed from leg pin holes 40 therebypreserving the integrity of the leg 37 assembly with support plate 38.After legs 37 are assembled to ears 58, a lanyard 47 is affixed to stop46 on each of legs 37, lanyard 47 having a length between each stop 46to allow each of legs 37 to generally be deployed at an angle offorty-five (45) degrees from centerline 53. Thus, referring now to FIG.2, multiple hazard marker 10 is adapted to be deployed upon deploymentsurface 90 in a triangular configuration with legs 37 forming a tripodbase from support plate 38 to deployment surface 90 with mast 18extending upwardly from support plate 38. As mast 18 is rotatablydisposed in support plate 38 and base mounting plate 50 by gimbal 51,mast 18 assumes a vertical orientation without regard to theconfiguration of deployment surface 90.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 4 a and 4 c, legs 37 have means for expanding 12associated therewith and hence are biased in an outward orientation by abiasing element 95 such as a leaf or torsion spring 96 to assist legs 37in deploying outwardly to form tripod base for multiple hazard marker10. A spring coupler 193 having a shaft hole 194 in the center thereofis disposed about leg 37 having spring holes 195 facing upwardly towardbase mounting plate 50. Torsion springs 96 are then disposed on bothsides of leg 37 having an one end 201 inserted into spring hole 195 inspring coupler 193. Spring coupler 193 is then moved upwardly towardrelease plate with spring 96 biased toward a deployment position untilother end 202 of torsion spring 96 may be inserted into a spring hole203 in sides 69 of base mounting plate 50. Spring coupler 193 may thenbe secured to leg 37 by a set screw through the minor diameter thereofengaging an outer surface 81. Thus, leg 37 is biased outwardly upondeployment.

Stop 46 may be disposed at any point along leg 37 from deploymentsurface engaging end 44 to pivot end 45 but is best placed approximatelymidway therebetween. Finally, end cap 85 may be affixed to pivot end 45by inserting same within bore 97 or encircling outer surface 81therewith and securing end cap 85 thereto or by threading onto threadedend 45 of leg 37.

Multiple hazard marker 10 and/or multiple hazard marker 10A may be usedto mark a breach in a minefield after the breach is established such aswith a mine plow attached to a military tank. Multiple hazard marker 10,10A may be deployed upon deployment surface 90 alongside either or bothsides of the breach to mark a clear pathway through the minefield. Whenused to mark a breach through a minefield or to mark other hazards froma ground based deployment vehicle, multiple hazard marker 10, 10A isdeployed from cartridge tube 120 through open lower end 121 by gravityfeed assisted by spring 168 in flag carrying tube 169 when used. As bestobserved in FIG. 3, multiple hazard marker 10 is collapsed withincartridge tube 120 but after release therefrom, legs 37 tend to splayoutwardly forming a tripod base when feet 48 engage deployment surface90. In a like manner, as observed in FIG. 9, multiple hazard marker 10Ais shown in a collapsed state with legs 37A folded upon housing 31A butafter release from cartridge tube 120, and upon alighting upondeployment surface 90, legs 37A are released from the folded position byrelease of leg catches 217 of means to expand 12A and spring outwardlybecoming substantially parallel with deployment surface 90.

Referring now to FIG. 5 multiple hazard marker 10, 10A is retainedwithin cartridge tube 120 upon a support end 128 of a catch 126 of arelease mechanism 119 as support end 128 is adapted to engage bottomsurface 71 of lower plate 50 or lower surface 255 of skid plate 99 ofmultiple hazard marker 10, 10A respectively. Catch 126 is disposedthrough an aperture 125 formed through cartridge tube 120 and internalsleeve 130, aperture 125 having a pivot edge 127 on cartridge tube 120and pivot edge 127′ on internal sleeve 130 for engaging catch 126 alonga slide surface 131. Typically, three catches 126 are disposed throughthree apertures 125, apertures 125 spaced at an angular displacement ofone hundred twenty degrees (120°). An annular ring 132 alignedvertically along cartridge tube 120 at apertures 125 and fitted overouter peripheral surface 133 of internal sleeve 130 engages each catch126 at a release attachment point 129 and retains each catch 126thereupon. In the release of multiple hazard marker 10, 10A, annularring 132 is adapted to rotate in a direction to cause slide surface 131to move along pivot edge 127 of aperture 125 withdrawing support end 128from underneath lower surface 71, 255 thereby releasing multiple hazardmarker 10, 10A from cartridge tube 120. In an alternate release method,internal sleeve 130 is adapted to rotate within inner surface 134 ofcartridge tube 120 thereby moving pivot edge 127′ of internal sleeve 130against slide surface 131 of catch 126 causing catch 126 to withdrawsupport from lower surface 71, 255 in like manner to the abovedescription. As will be readily apparent, internal sleeve 130 rotates ina direction opposite the direction annular ring 132 would rotate.Similarly, internal sleeve 130 and annular ring 132 may cooperate butrotating simultaneously in opposite directions to provide for a morerapid release of multiple hazard marker 10. Catch 126 may also capturesupport plate 38 and base mounting plate 50 in a slot in support end 128such that multiple hazard marker 10, 10A will not slide out throughupper end 122 if cartridge 120 is inadvertently inverted. More than onemultiple hazard marker 10A may be readied for deployment in cartridge120 by providing more than one release mechanism 119 for retaining eachmultiple hazard marker 10A.

Although multiple hazard marker 10, 10A may be used to mark a breachthrough a minefield as hereinbefore described, multiple hazard marker10, 10A may also be used for biological or chemical sampling of theregion around multiple hazard marker 10, 10A as housing 31 is adapted tohouse sampling sensors therein. While multiple hazard marker 10, 10A maybe deployed from a ground engaging deployment vehicle 160 such as a tankfor the marking of a minefield, multiple hazard marker 10, 10A may bedeployed from deployment vehicles 160 in the air as well, multiplehazard marker 10, 10A having a parachute attached thereto for deployingfrom an aircraft where entry into the field to be marked may behazardous to ground based personnel or vehicles. For instance, multiplehazard marker 10, 10A may be deployed by aircraft for marking theboundaries of a minefield wherein the mines in the field have beendetected by ground penetrating radar, either mounted on a separateaircraft or combined on board with field marking system 150. The methodof detecting mines by ground penetrating radar is discussed fully in thearticle by Earp, et al., entitled “Ultra Wideband Ground PenetratingRadar for Detection of Buried Metallic Mines”, appearing in IEEE AESSystems, Vol. 11, No.9, September 1996. Another means of detecting minesin a minefield is described in the article “Flight Performance of anAirborne Minefield Detection and Reconnaissance System” by Andre G.Lareau, Photogrammetric Engineering & Remote Sensing, Vol. 57, No. 2,Feburary 1991, these articles incorporated herein by this referencethereto. In like manner, multiple hazard marker 10, 10A may be used bylaw enforcement personnel to detect the presence of methamphetaminelaboratories operating in remote areas by dropping a multiple hazardmarker 10, 10A from an aircraft in a suspected area and activatingsensors within housing 31 to sample for the odors present in themanufacture of the illicit drug. Multiple hazard marker 10, 10A isadapted to engage deployment surface 90 in the same manner as occurswhen deployed from a ground engaging vehicle as legs 37 of multiplehazard marker 10 move apart upon release from cartridge 120 from theaircraft or as legs 37A of multiple hazard marker 10A spring outwardlyupon alighting upon deployment surface 90. Of course, a means forpreventing expansion coupled with a proximity or time release means maybe employed to cause expansion of legs 37 of multiple hazard marker 10at a time or distance above the surface as desired.

Means for detecting, differentiating and neutralizing biological orchemical hazards have been described in numerous papers on the subject.For instance, Caffrey, et al., in the article “Chemical Warfare Agentand High Explosive Identification by Spectroscopy of Neutron-inducedGamma Rays”, IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, Vol. 39, No. 5present an identification algorithm for identifying and differentiatingbetween high explosives and chemical warfare agents, the article byCaffrey, et al., incorporated herein by this reference thereto. Anotherbiological agent detector is described by McGowan, et al., in theirarticle “Biological Agent Detector using a Surface Transverse WaveResonator Preliminary Report”, 1994 IEEE MTT-S Digest, TU4D-4,incorporated herein by this reference thereto. Some sensors rely onmolecular mass measurements to detect CW and BW agents. These includethe Chemical Agent Monitor (CAM) and the Chemical and Biological MassSpectrometer (CBMS). One proven chemical Agent Monitor is supplied byGraseby Dynamics, Ltd. Briefly, it is a portable and battery-operatedhand-held unit, capable of detecting blister (HD, HN3) and nerve (GB,VX) gases at levels which are below NATO requirements. Detection ofthese CW agents is achieved using the very well established ionmobilitymass spectrometer (IMS) technology. This technology has not only beensuccessfully applied to CW detection, but is used extensively forenvironmental monitoring and industrial process monitoring.

Passive Fourier transform mid-infrared spectrometers (FT-IR); frequencyagile mid-infrared carbon dioxide, ultraviolet fluorescence, 1.06micron, and 2.0 micron lidar systems; mid-infrared Mueller matrixellipsometers; immunoassay coated fiber-optics and hybrid active-passivemid-infrared thermoluminescence spectrometer sensors rely on opticalmeasurements to detect CW and BW agents. Whether using optical ormolecular mass measurements, sampling for key indicators as described inthe aforementioned articles may be accomplished within housing 31, 31A,the results of the sampling being transmitted by a means for signaling36 associated with integrated circuit boards 91. As best shown in FIG.6, means for signaling 36 comprises at least a switching means 135associated with one of integrated circuit boards 91 having at least onelight bulb 32 being illuminated by switching means 135 to indicatehazard or safety and may further comprise transmitting antenna 26associated with mast 18 for transmitting to a remote station thepresence of the various ions detected for further analysis by personnelat the remote station. A receiving antenna 25 also associated withintegrated circuit boards 91 is adapted to receive signals from theremote station for activation of sampling sequences within housing 31.Receiving antenna 25 and transmitting antenna 26 are formed as a part ofmast 18 and electrically isolated from each other by insulating sleeve27 as on multiple hazard marker 10, however may be incorporated as apart of circuit board 91 as in multiple hazard marker 10A. Uponidentification of the particular biological or chemical hazard,neutralizing agents may then be deployed in the proximity of themultiple hazard marker to effect neutralization of the hazard. Multiplehazard marker 10, 10A of course, is still available for continuedmonitoring of the immediate area to determine the efficacy of thecountermeasures and to signal an all clear when the hazard has beeneliminated. The journal article “Chemical Reactions for NeutralisingChemical Warfare Agents” by Yu-Chu Yang published in the May 1, 1995issue of Chemistry & Industry details effective countermeasures, thisarticle incorporated herein by this reference thereto.

In like manner, multiple hazard marker 10, 10A may be utilized inhostile environs to measure temperature, ground movement and gases suchas emitted from a volcano. Referring back to FIG. 4, displacementsensors 136 may be made a part of support plate 38 and/or base mountingplate 50 which are positioned for contact against legs 37. Movement ofany leg 37 relative to support plate 38 or base mounting plate 50 istransmitted to a remote location via transmitting antenna 26. Similarly,temperature sensors 154 may transmit temperature information on a realtime basis through integrated circuit boards 91 and transmitting antenna26. Identification of gases expected from a volcano may be accomplishedby changing the gas identification algorithm previously described forbiological or chemical warfare gases. Monitoring of a larger scale faultline may be accomplished with displacement sensors 136 as describedabove and the information transmitted to the remote station. Thelocations of each of multiple hazard markers 10, 10A may be achieved bygeopositional satellite (GPS) identification using a signal transmittedfrom each of multiple hazard markers 10, 10A or by an identificationcode established within each receiver 137 of FIG. 6. Similarly, themagnitude of a force generated with the ground movement may bedetermined by using the mass of housing 31, integrated circuit boards 91and counterweight 87 as a pendulum mass and measuring the period of thependulum swing associated with the movement Thus, a displacement sensor136 may be associated with support plate 38 and mast 18 to determine theperiod of the pendulum swing. A stimulant parameter may be induced intodisplacement sensor 136 to assist in differentiating seismic activityfrom ambient activity. An initialization sequence is programmed intointegrated circuit boards 91 and activated by sending the initializationcommand through receiving antenna 27 to receiver 137 in housing 31.Therefore, the real time information determined by multiple hazardmarker 10, 10A and transmitted to the remote station removes personnelfrom hazardous environs while still permitting gathering of valuableinformation. Likewise, use of multiple hazard marker 10, 10A in spaceexploration is possible by outfitting housing 31, 31A with sensors todetect and/or measure desired information on space objects. Of course,multiple hazard marker 10, 10A could be suspended by a weather balloonfor measurement of atmospheric data while aloft and measurement ofenvironmental data after returning to the earth's surface. The inclusionof GPS locators thereafter pinpoints the location of multiple hazardmarker 10.

Housing 31 may further house proximity or presence sensors to detectmovement within the proximity of the multiple hazard marker 10, 10A bymeasuring the change in capacitance of the field generated by thesensor. Detecting movement has obvious connotations in military usage,however, detecting movement of personnel within a previously identifiedhazardous area can alert medical personnel to the location of victims ofthe hazard and effect removal of these victims therefrom. Sensors fordetecting water level in a flooded plain may be housed in legs 37, 37Aas other sensors may be mounted upon support plate 38, 38A or basemounting plate 50, 50A as desired for detecting or measuring otherenvironmental parameters. Sensors for detecting buried power and fluidtransmission lines may be included in housing 31, 31A for marking thelocations of these systems. Furthermore, multiple hazard markers 10, 10Amay be used to mark the construction zones, surveying sites, fire zonesand blasting zones utilizing means for marking 16 by deploying aquantity of multiple hazard markers 10, 10A as needed for indicating thepresence of these hazards. Sensors hereinbefore described as useful andother sensors which may be utilized with multiple hazard marker 10, 10Afor other purposes are fully described in the textbook Sensors andCircuits by Joseph J. Carr, published by Prentice-Hall, EnglewoodCliffs, N.J., 1993, incorporated herein by this reference thereto. Gassensors particularly useful in multiple hazard markers 10, 10A areTaguchi Gas Sensors manufactured by Figaro, USA, Inc. Such gas sensorscan detect very low level concentrations of various gases present inchemical warfare systems by measuring a resistance across a metal oxideor ceramic oxide surface and will recover to original resistance uponremoval of the toxic gas. The gas sensors must fulfill many exploitationrequirements; the most important parameters are: sensitivity,selectivity, reading reproducibility, stability during the operation,quick response, small size safety operation, low power consumption, ˜15mW, and low cost. The resistance of the gas sensors used in multiplehazard markers 10, 10A, is changed very quickly when exposed to a gas,and when removed from the gas, its resistance will recover to itsoriginal value after a short time. The speed of response andreversibility will vary according to the model of sensor and the gasinvolved, however the typical response time is within a few seconds.

Referring again to FIG. 1 and 3, the multiple hazard marker system 150of this invention comprises a means for deploying 100 mounted upon adeployment vehicle 160, means for deploying 100 having a multiple hazardmarker 10, 10A therein. Mounting bracket 103, generally horizontallydisposed upon deployment vehicle 160, is formed from a channel 102having upright edges 111, 112 on either edge of a base 138 forming anopen channel 108 therebetween, channel 102 generally formed from a fiveinch steel channel iron wherein upright edges 111, 112 are approximatelyone and one half inches in height. A mounting bar 101 is formed from abox channel, open channel or solid bar stock and is firmly affixed todeployment vehicle 160 by bolting or welding one side thereto. Matchdrilled through upright edges 111, 112 of mounting bracket 103 andmounting bar 101 are multiple one half inch diameter openings 105 and106 respectively, for receiving attachment pins 104 therein. Attachmentpins 104 are formed from six inch long, one half inch diameter, hardenedsteel cylindrical pins having a head on one end and a snap catch on theother end, however pins 104 may be half inch diameter bolts adapted tobe inserted through openings 105, 106 and secured therein with nuts onthe open thereof. Channel 102 is adapted to slide longitudinally alongmounting bar 101 for extending or retracting means for deploying 100therealong in order to place means for deploying 100 at further orcloser orientations to an edge 161 of deployment vehicle 160. Threemounting openings 105, 106 are shown in each of channel 102 and mountingbar 101 respectively, however, it is to be understood that openings 105and/or 106 may be disposed along the entire length of channel 102 ormounting bar 101 to provide for a greater number of longitudinalorientations.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, cartridge tube 120 is preferablyformed from Schedule 40 cold rolled steel tube having an inside diameter123 of five and one half inches having a five inch inside diameterthermoplastic tube inserted therein and is affixed to the terminal end107 of channel 102 in an orientation to provide for vertical deploymentof multiple hazard marker 10 therefrom. The steel tube of cartridge tube120 is cut into two sections, one section thirty inches in length fromlower end 121 to annular ring 132 and a second section at least fifteeninches in length disposed above annular ring 132 while the thermoplastictube extends from lower end 121 to upper end 122. The thermoplastic tubeis a commercially available five inch inside diameter Schedule 40thermoplastic water pipe approximately five feet in length and isfrictionally fitted within the steel tube and secured thereto with bolts(not shown) extending through the steel tube into threaded holes (notshown) in the wall of the thermoplastic tube. A commercially availablefive and one half inch inside diameter thermoplastic end cap 59 isfrictionally fitted upon upper end 122 and may further be securedthereto with additional bolts (not shown). Cartridge tube 120 isgenerally mounted at a right angle to channel 102 and may be welded toone end thereof having lower end 121 disposed slightly below the lowersurface 158 of mounting bar 101. Channel 102 is generally orienteddownwardly and is partially removed from FIG. 7 to show mounting bar 101therewithin. Referring also to FIG. 3, length 124 of cartridge tube 120is generally at least the length of a collapsed multiple hazard marker10, 10A such that multiple hazard marker 10, 10A assumes a verticalorientation within cartridge 120 and is therefore, is at least threefeet and preferably approximately five feet from upper end 122 to lowerend 121. Upright standards 110 and angled support braces 109 are formedfrom one quarter inch thick, two inch wide cold rolled steel bar andwelded to channel 102, upright standards 110 extending upwardly at aright angle from each upright edge 111, 112 of channel 102 approximatelyone half the length 124 of cartridge 120. Two inch square, one quarterinch thick steel pads 116 are welded to upright edges 111, 112 ofchannel 102 and angled support braces 109 have one end 113 welded topads 116 at an angle of approximately 45 degrees while opposite end 115thereof is welded to upright standards 110 having ends 115 extendingalongside cartridge 120 and further welded thereto. Support plate 117 iswelded to upright standards 110 at the upper ends 118 thereof, ends 115of angled support braces 109 protruding through holes 114 in support 117and welded thereto. Support plate 117 generally extends above upper ends118 of upright standards 110 providing more support to cartridge 120.Plate 117 may be welded to cartridge 120 along the length thereof butpreferably, cartridge tube 120 is affixed to support 117 by U-boltshaving threaded ends which pass through holes in support 117, such holesbeing formed in pairs for accepting the ends of U bolts therein, some ofthese pairs being disposed at an angle to the vertical axis of means fordeploying 100 such that multiple hazard marker 10, 10A may be deployedat a slight angle to the vertical to ensure that toe 49 on one leg 37positively engages deployment surface prior to any of other legs 37. Forinstance, one of these pairs of holes is oriented at an angle of 15degrees from the horizontal and yet another of these pairs of holes isoriented at an angle of 30 degrees from the horizontal to compensate forthe forward speed of deployment vehicle 160 such that multiple hazardmarker 10 may alight upon deployment surface 90 with a trailing leg 37prior to leading legs 37. It is to be understood here that a trailingleg 37 is a leg 37 disposed aft of centerline 53 in the direction ofmovement of deployment vehicle 160.

Cartridge tube 120 has both ends 121, 122 open for ease of loading anddeploying of multiple hazard markers 10, 10A with lower end 121 disposedapproximately seven feet above deployment surface 90. Thus, as multiplehazard marker 10 is deployed from cartridge tube 120 of means fordeploying 100, a means for expanding 12 associated with a centralportion 13 of multiple hazard marker 10, 10A forms a means for remainingerect 14 associated with a surface engaging portion 15 of multiplehazard marker 10. Cartridge tube 120 has an annular ledge 139 formed oninner surface 134 at lower end 121 for accepting an end 140 of internalsleeve 130, annular ledge 139 welded to inner surface 134. End 140 ofinternal sleeve 130 is machined square with the longitudinal axis ofinternal sleeve 130 and adapted to rotate upon annular ledge 139. In thepreferred embodiment, internal sleeve 130 and tube 120 are securedtogether with machine screws passed through tube 120 into threaded holesin sleeve 130, the screws terminating in sleeve 130.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 5, apertures 125 and 142 are formed throughannular ring 132 and internal sleeve 130 respectively, and are spaced atan angular displacement of one hundred twenty degrees (120°). Apertures125 have a pivot edges 127 in annular ring 132 and 127′ in internalsleeve 130 for engaging slide surface 131 of catch 126 disposedtherethrough. Annular ring 132 is a three inch wide ring of steel havingan inside diameter approximately equal to the outside diameter of innersleeve 130 and is aligned vertically along inner sleeve 130 at apertures142. Annular ring 132 has release attachment points 129 on an upper edge141 of a boss 149, boss 149 affixed to the outer periphery 42 of annularring 132, each catch 126 retained on an attachment pin 144 at releaseattachment points 129. Catches 126 are biased inwardly through apertures125 toward inside surface 134 and into internal volume 299 of cartridge120 to retain multiple hazard marker 10, 10A therein upon a support end128 of a catch 126. Catch 126 is formed of a one and one quarter inchthick arm having a curved slide surface 131 formed on the inside surface143 thereof, catch 126 having support end 128 on one end and releaseattachment point 129 on the other end thereof. Release attachment point129 is drilled through catch 126 and reamed for receipt of attachmentpin 144 of annular ring 132 therein while support end 128 is machinedflat on the upper surface 145 of catch 126. Support end 128 is adaptedto engage lower surface 71 of base mounting plate 50 at apices 73thereof, however, catch 126 may have an eleven sixteenths inch wide slot(not shown) disposed in support end 128 thereof capturing support plate38 and base mounting plate 50 therein and thus this slot overlies uppersurface 66 and engages bottom surface 71. In the release of multiplehazard marker 10, annular ring 132 rotates in a direction, clockwise asviewed in FIG. 5 from upper end 122 of cartridge 120, to cause slidesurface 131 to move along pivot edge 127 of aperture 125 withdrawingsupport end 128 from underneath lower surface 71 thereby releasingmultiple hazard marker 10, 10A from cartridge tube 120. In an alternaterelease method, internal sleeve 130 is adapted to rotatecounterclockwise as viewed from upper end 122 within inner surface 134of cartridge tube 120 thereby moving pivot edge 127′ of internal sleeve130 against slide surface 131 of catch 126 causing catch 126 to withdrawsupport from lower surface 71 in like manner to the above description.Similarly, internal sleeve 130 and annular ring 132 may cooperate byrotating simultaneously in opposite directions to provide for a morerapid release of multiple hazard marker 10. Annular ring 132 may berotated by a hand release mechanism by pulling tangentially from one ofrelease attachment points 129 but usually, annular ring 132 is rotatedremotely having an actuating means associated with at least one releaseattachment point 129. An actuating means may be a pneumatic, electric orhydraulic cylinder adapted to move release attachment point 129 in areleasing direction.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, multiple hazard marker 10 has an upperportion 17 comprising elongated mast 18 having an upper end 19 and alower end 20. Elongated mast 18 is formed from one half inch outsidediameter, hollow aluminum or steel tube having an outside surface 28, abore 29 and a length 30 as measured from terminal end 23 to lower end20. Mast 18 may also be a telescoping tube of several sections having anextended length equal to length 30, each section of the telescoping tubemade successively smaller in diameter than the immediately precedingtube. Upper end 19 has means for marking 16 comprising at least aluminescent or phosphorescent coating 22 on a portion 21, phosphorescentcoating 22 applied to outside surface 28 of upper end 19 by dippingportion 21 in a luminescent or phosphorous paint or by wrapping anadhesive backed phosphorescent or luminescent tape therearound.Identification flag 155 formed from a weather resistant fabric orthemoplastic sheet and having indicia 156 thereupon may further beaffixed to upper end 19 of mast 18 by means known in the art. Flag 155or indicia 156 may also be made luminescent or phosphorescent. Means formarking 16 may further comprise a lighting lens 24, shown in FIG. 6,associated with terminal end 23, lighting lens 24 illuminated by one ofelectrically actuated light bulbs 32. Lighting lens 24 may compriseseparate bulbs of different colors, such as red, green and yellow havingseparate wires connected thereto, but in the preferred embodiment,lighting lens 24 is a hemispherically polished end 35 of a fiber opticcable 33 having an opposite end 34 divided into separate strands groupedfor illumination by separate light bulbs 32, light bulbs 32 controlledby circuits mounted on integrated circuit boards 91. Light bulbs 32 areeach a different color, one each for red, green or yellow, redsignifying warning, green indicating safe, and yellow for hazard and aconstant source rather than a pulsating strobe for enhanced use inlimited visibility. Lighting lens 24 provides significant illuminationsuch that the indicating lights represented by the three colors may beobserved from outside a hazard warning area and therefore, when nohazard is indicated, may guide personnel and vehicles through apreviously hazardous area. Of course, when a hazard is indicated by theyellow light emitted through lens 24, personnel and vehicles are warnedthereby to avoid the area marked by those multiple hazard markers 10.Other colored lights, including white, may be added to lens 24 byfurther dividing fiber optic cable 33 at end 34 or by having a multiplecolored wheel passing before any of light bulbs 32. For instance, awhite light may be utilized to indicate that multiple hazard marker 10,10A is in a sampling mode or has not yet determined the status of thearea being marked. A clear, transparent thermoplastic cover 92 may befitted into terminal end 23 of mast 18 by inserting into bore 29 orfitting over outer surface 28 and being secured in fluid tightengagement therewithin or thereonto. For instance, thermoplastic cover92 may have a threaded exterior portion for threading into a threadedend of terminal end 23 or may have a reduced diameter end for frictionfitting within bore 29 mast 18 or may have an internal diameter equal tothe outside diameter of outside surface 28 of mast 18 for gluing cover92 thereonto. Means for marking 16 may be readily observed by personnelon foot or in vehicles as terminal end 23 is adapted to be disposed atleast five feet above deployment surface 90. Optional separate lamphousing containing lighting lens 24 is a light weight two inch outsidediameter, six inch long aluminum or steel can having a dosed end and anopen end similar to housing 31 and is affixed to terminal end 23 of mast18 or terminal end 23′ of flag carrying tube 169 with anothercounterweight similar to counterweight 87, however is not a significantmass as is counterweight 87 and thus the mass of separate lamp housingand separate counterweight does not significantly affect the rightingmoment provided by counterweight 87 and housing 31. The separate lamphousing contains separate light bulbs 32, separate sensors forenvironmental sampling and separate electronic circuit boards 91 allacting independently these respective components contained in housing31. Lighting lens 24 may be made a portion of the closed end of theseparate lamp housing or may have lens apertures through the outer wallthereof for multiple hazard marker 10 or may be integral with mast 18Aof multiple hazard marker 10A.

Upper end 19 has receiving antenna 25 and transmitting antenna 26associated therewith, receiving antenna 25 electrically isolated fromtransmitting antenna 26 by insulating sleeve 27. Receiving antenna 25 isan aluminum or steel tube identical to the tube used for mast 18 and, infact, comprises upper end 19 of mast 18 while transmitting antenna 26 isa mid portion 146 of mast 18. Insulating sleeve 27 is formed from athermoplastic material such as polyethylene, polypropylene or nylon andis greater in outside diameter than mast 18 and has a bore equal tooutside diameter 78 such that receiving antenna 25 and transmittingantenna 26 are received therein. Insulating sleeve 27 has an internalring separating receiving antenna 25 and transmitting antenna 26.Receiving antenna 25 and transmitting antenna 26 are electricallyconnected to receiving and transmitting portions of integrated circuitboards 91 respectively by wires which are run downwardly through bore 29of mast 18. Multiple hazard marker 10, 10A contains a command signalimpulse actuator 93 associated with integrated circuit boards 91 that iscapable of receiving signal, code and frequency to the multiple hazardmarker 10, 10A in the cartridge to change the color of electronic light32 to indicate hazardous material with a yellow light, to red forwarning, to green for safe. Multiple hazard marker 10, 10A has a batterythat provides power to the command signal impulse actuator, anintegrated current receiver command module 94, light bulbs 32 andcircuit boards 91. Command signal impulse actuator 93 and integratedcurrent receiver command module 94 therefore, comprise a means forchanging 86 to receive instructions from a remote unit or act inresponse to a detected hazard to modify means for signaling 36accordingly.

Referring particularly now to FIG. 4b, lower end 20 of mast 18 hascounterweight 87 threaded thereonto and may also have an instrumenthousing 31 affixed to counterweight 87. Counterweight 87 provides arighting moment to elongated mast 18 such that mast 18 is alwayssubstantially vertical after multiple hazard marker 10, 10A is fullydeployed upon deployment surface 90. Housing 31 is a hollow metalcontainer having a lower end 147 and an upper end 148, upper end 148having threads thereon for threading upon a threaded flange 151 ofcounterweight 87. Counterweight 87 is a die cast metal, three kilogramweight having a threaded bore 89 centrally disposed therein which isaffixed to lower end 20 of mast 18 by threading onto counterweight 87upon a threaded portion 88 of lower end 20. Counterweight 87 further hasa threaded flange 151 at its outer periphery for accepting housing 31thereupon. The significant mass of counterweight 87 provides therighting moment for mast 18. Counterweight 87 has slots formed upon thelower surface 153 thereof for mounting the components of means forsignaling 36, such as electronic circuitry, power supplies, sensingelements, light bulbs, receivers and transmitters, threaded bore 89aligning with bore 29 of mast 18 for passing wiring or sensing tubingtherethrough. A battery generally supplies power to command signalimpulse actuator 93, integrated current receiver command module 94,light bulbs 32 and integrated circuit boards 91, however, counterweight87 or housing 31 may additionally have a solar array mounted thereon forgenerating electrical power.

Referring now to FIG. 4a, gimbal 51 is a preferably a brass, bronze orthermoplastic spherical bearing in a bearing assembly approximately oneand one half inches in outside diameter having a one half inch holebored therethrough for receiving mast 18 therein. Support plate 38 hasmounting hole 76 bored centrally therein for receiving gimbal 51. Mast18 is thus pivotally supported in gimbal 51 mounted in support plate 38and base mounting plate 50 on centerline 53 of multiple hazard marker10, central portion 13 joining upper portion 17 to surface engagingportion 15. Gimbal 51 therefore, has a hole 75 substantially the samediameter as outer diameter 78 of mast 18 through its geographic centerfor receiving mast 18 therethrough and has mast 18 firmly affixedtherein. Typically, gimbal 51 is a spherical bearing and may be expandedby heating, or mast 18 may be supercooled, prior to sliding mast 18therein. Thus, hole 75 is expanded along with gimbal 51, or mast 18reduced in diameter, and after inserting mast 18 to its desired locationwithin gimbal 51, gimbal 51 and mast 18 are allowed to return to ambienttemperature thereby rigidly affixing gimbal 51 to mast 18. As gimbal 51is free to rotate, mast 18 always assumes a vertical orientation withoutregard to the contour of deployment surface 90.

As best observed in FIG. 4a, support plate 38 is a six sided figurewhich is formed from a four and one half inch diameter, one half inchthick, flat metallic plate, preferably aluminum, but may be steel oranother structural material and in the preferred embodiment, and hasouter diameter 57 partially cut away to inner diametral surface 56 andtriangular sides 83 with leg slots 39 disposed within protruding ears58, ears 58 centrally disposed on triangular sides 83. Ears 58 extendfrom triangular sides 83, to outer diameter 57 while leg slots 39 extendinwardly from outer diameter 57 beyond inner diametral surface 56substantially to triangular sides 83. Inner diametral surface 56 isapproximately three and one half inches in diameter and leg slots 39 areapproximately three quarters inch deep from outer diameter 57.Triangular sides 83 meet at inner diametral surface 56 in truncatedapices 68. Support plate 38 may alternately be described as a triangularplate having ears 58 protruding from sides 83 thereof. Leg slots 39 areapproximately seven eighths inch in width between lobes 60. Leg pinholes 40 are formed perpendicular to leg slots 39 through lobes 60 ofears 58 by drilling a one quarter inch hole from one outer edge 178 ofone lobe 60 through each lobe 60 and, if desired, counter boring one endof each leg pin hole 40 with a counter bore 62 for accepting headportion 64 thereinto at assembly. The opposite lobe 60 has threaded hole65 disposed about leg pin hole 40 for receiving threaded portion 63 ofleg pin 41 therein. In the preferred embodiment, threaded portion 65 isomitted and leg hole 40 is a smooth bore through both lobes 60. Sockethead cap screws 61 having mating nuts 180 threaded onto threaded portion63 thereof have nuts 180 disposed against an outer edge 178 of one lobe60 while head portion 64 bears against outer edge 178 of the other lobe60. Carriage bolts or machine bolts having a head portion 64 and athreaded portion 65 may also be used in place of socket head cap screws61. Upper end 19 of mast 18 may then be inserted through mounting hole76, 77 from surface 71 of base mounting plate 50 having gimbal 51aligned with mounting hole 76, 77 and press fitted therein. Since masthole 76 is larger in diameter than mast 18, mast 18 is readily rotatabletherewithin after assembly of multiple hazard marker 10.

Base mounting plate 50 is formed as an equilateral triangle from a fiveeighths inch thick, flat metallic plate, preferably aluminum but mayalso be steel or another structural material, and has truncated apices73 at the juncture of each of sides 69, the altitude from each side 69to each opposite apex 73 being approximately two and one half inches.Apices 73 are curved surfaces 72 corresponding in diameter to innerdiametral surface 56 of support plate 38, curved surfaces 72 extendingbetween ears 58 upon assembly of base mounting plate 50 to support plate38. Threaded holes 54 are drilled and tapped with #10-24 thread intoeach apex 73 one quarter inch inwardly from apex 73 for affixing basemounting plate 50 to support plate 38. Base mounting plate 50 has uppersurface 70 and bottom surface 71 formed on opposite sides thereof andfurther has a one and one half inch hole 77 bored on centerline 53therethrough from upper surface 70 to bottom surface 71 adapted forreceiving gimbal 51 therein.

At assembly, support plate 38 is disposed superior to base mountingplate 50 and secured thereto with #10-24 bolts 52 screwed into threadedholes 54 in base mounting plate 50, bolts 52 disposed through holes 55in support plate 38 with apices 73 of base mounting plate 50 rotated 60degrees from leg slots 39, but aligned with apices 68 of support plate38. Leg slots 39 are thus centrally located along each of sides 69 ofbase mounting plate 50. Upper surface 70 is adapted to mate with lowersurface 67 of support plate 38 and be contiguous therewith and havingholes 76, 77 aligned for receiving gimbal 51 therein.

Pivot sleeves 43 are preferably brass, bronze or thermoplastic sleeveshaving a one quarter inch diameter hole drilled therethrough forreceiving leg pin 41 therein. Thus, when assembled to support plate 38,pivot sleeves 43 have line contact with the inside surface 152 of lobes60 such that legs 37 may freely pivot about leg pins 41. Preferably, endcap 85 is threaded upon pivot end 45 of leg 37 or may be force fit intopivot end 45 by inserting same within bore 97 and frictionally drivingend cap 85 thereinto. End cap 85 is preferably a ¾ NPT bronze or brasspipe cap having a one sixteenth inch diameter vent 197 drilled thereinwhich may have vent tube 198 screwed into a threaded opening therein orbrazed therein.

Leg pins 41 may be bronze or brass cylindrical pins with a head portion64 to be received in counter bore 62 but preferably are two inch longhardened steel bolts 61 having head portion 64 and threaded portion 63.Each leg pin 41 is inserted into leg pin hole 40 through one lobe 60,through pivot sleeve 43 in leg 37 having nuts 180 threaded upon threadedportion 63 or alternately, screwed into threaded hole 65 in other lobe60 of ear 58.

Legs 37 may be formed from circular, square, or triangular steel oraluminum tube but are preferably cut from a length of three quarter inchsteel pipe approximately three feet in length from pivot end 45 todeployment surface engaging end 44 having open ends 44, 45 burnished forease of assembly of end cap 85 and foot 48. Legs 37 are threaded uponboth ends with ¾ NPT threads for receiving end caps 85, 188 thereupon.Deployment surface engaging end 44 has a foot 48 inserted thereinto,foot 48 formed from a three eighths inch diameter solid bar of aluminumor steel having a slot 187 cut through the terminal end 199 thereof forreceiving toe 49 therein and having opposite end 200 slidably receivedin bore 97 of leg 37. Shrink fit upon foot 48 is apolytetrafluoroethylene sleeve 183 having an outside diameter equal tothe inside diameter of bore 97 and slidably engaged therewith uponassembly. End 200 may further have a polytetrafluoroethylene bushing183′ also the same diameter as bore 97 mounted thereon providingadditional support for foot 48. Foot 48 is received in bore 189 of endcap 188 prior to threading end cap 188 upon leg 37. End cap 188 is a ¾NPT bronze or brass pipe cap having a three eighths inch diameter bore189 therethrough for receiving foot 48 therein.

End 199 of foot 48 has roll pin holes 186 drilled through intersectingslot 187 centrally therein. Toe 49 is formed in an equilateral trianglefrom a one sixteenth inch thick steel plate having each sideapproximately one inch in length. Two of the sides are sharpenedterminating in a pointed end 98 adapted for positive engagement withdeployment surface 90. Roll pin holes 185 are drilled through toe 49near the end opposite pointed end 98 for receiving roll pins 181 thereinat assembly. Toe 49 thereby penetrates deployment surface 90establishing a firm base for multiple hazard marker 10. Springs 190 forbiasing foot 48 downwardly and for absorbing shock when deployed andspring 168 for biasing flag carrying tube upwardly are conventionalcompression springs cut to length to provide for the functionshereinbefore described. Foot 48 may alternatively be fashioned from agas filled shock absorber which is press fit into leg 37 having a rodextending therefrom for attaching toe 49.

Spring coupler 193 is cut from a two inch diameter, one inch thick steelbar stock and formed into an elliptical shape having a shaft hole 194 inthe center thereof and torsion spring holes 195 drilled through thethickness thereof centered on the major axis and equidistantly spacedfrom hole 194 on either side thereof. Shaft hole 194 is approximatelythe same diameter as outer surface 81 of leg 37 for a loose running fitthereupon. Torsion springs 96 may then be disposed on both sides of leg37 having one end 201 inserted into spring hole 195 in spring coupler193. Torsion springs 96 are formed from one eighth inch diameter springsteel wire having one end 201 disposed at a right angle to other end 202and having at least one full turn therebetween. Spring coupler 193 maythen be secured to leg 37 by a set screw through the minor diameterthereof or by press fitting spring coupler 193 thereonto engaging outersurface 81. Thus, leg 37 is biased outwardly upon deployment.

While a single means for deploying 100 has been described above indetail, multiple means for deploying are possible. For instance in FIG.1, the embodiment shown on the left of deployment vehicle 160 isautomated deployment device 165 having multiple means for deploying 100arranged in a circular fashion about a central point 157 spaced by anangular distance between the center lines 162 of each means fordeploying 100 forming a carousel 164 which is employed to deploy aplurality of multiple hazard markers 10, 10A in sequential fashion.Channel 102 of each means for deploying 100 is modified from centralpoint 157 to terminal end 107 by tapering channel 102 to provide forarranging means for deploying 100 in the circular fashion hereinbeforedescribed. Angled support braces 109 are also modified whereby only onesupport brace 109 is utilized for each cartridge 120 and is adapted tobe welded to channel 102 near the mid point thereof with opposite end115 welded to cartridge 120. Adjacent cartridges are arranged to becontiguous and are welded together along the touching outer periphery133 providing rigidity to carousel 164. Carousel 164 has a control anddrive mechanism 159 to control the rotation thereof and fix eachsequential means for deploying 100 in a deployment positionapproximating the deployment position of the single means for deploying100 shown on the right side of deployment vehicle 160. Of course,multiple circular rows 163 of means for deploying 100 may be providedfor in carousel 164 by reducing the number of means for deploying 100for each successive inwardly disposed row 163.

Each multiple hazard marker 10, 10A is magnetically coded with anidentification number and access code. The command signal impulseactuator 93 will receive an initial signal prior to deployment toinitialize the ABC sensors and electronic means for signaling 36. Meansfor signaling 36 may be set to white (sampling or unknown mode), yellow(low level hazard), red (high level hazard) but should not be set togreen (safe) unless the conditions are known. Preferably, means forsignaling 36 will be set to yellow signifying caution. Upon deploymentof multiple hazard marker 10, 10A onto deployment surface 90 commandsignal impulse actuator 93 will begin a sampling sequence to determinethe presence of ABC hazards and transmit a data stream to remotereceivers. Command signal impulse actuator 93 will change the color ofmeans for signaling 36 depending upon the results of the samplingsequence. Personnel at the remote receiver may transmit information toany multiple hazard marker 10, 10A by addressing same with the codedidentification number and access code to resubmit sampling data, restartthe sampling sequence, change the identification code or access code,change means for signaling or switch of that multiple hazard marker 10,10A. As each multiple hazard marker 10, 10A is visible from a distanceof at least one hundred meters in both day and night conditions, groundbased personnel may also access any multiple hazard marker 10, 10Autilizing a small pocket transceiver. Coating 22, 22A of multiple hazardmarkers 10, 10A may also comprise thermal absorbent material 279, and/orthermal absorbent material 279 may be attached to a portion of legs 37,37A or mast 18, 18A or both, for nighttime sighting of the multiplehazard marker 10, 10A utilizing night vision goggles. Multiple hazardmarkers 10, 10A are adapted to be used in hostile environments withtemperatures ranging from −20 to 140° F. and winds of 30 mph withoutturning over and are also adapted to withstand the shock of beingdropped from heights of at least 10 ft.

While the present invention has been described with reference to theabove described preferred embodiments and alternate embodiments, itshould be noted that various other embodiments and modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, theembodiments described herein and the drawings appended hereto are merelyillustrative of the features of the invention and should not beconstrued to be the only variants thereof nor be limited thereto.

I claim:
 1. A field marking system comprising a deployment vehicle, adeployment surface, a plurality of field markers and means to deploysaid field markers carried by said deployment vehicle, each said fieldmarker having a means for standing erect upon said deployment surface, ameans for visibly marking a location on said deployment surface, a meansfor visibly signaling the presence of physical hazards, a means fordetermining the presence of Atomic Biological and Chemical (ABC) hazardsand a means for communicating.
 2. A field marking system as in claim 1wherein said means for communicating includes means for receiving radiofrequency signals from remote transmitters.
 3. A field marking system asin claim 2 wherein at least one of said remote transmitters isassociated with said deployment vehicle.
 4. A field marking system as inclaim 1 wherein said means for visibly marking a location on saiddeployment surface comprises at least one luminous device.
 5. A fieldmarking system as in claim 1 wherein said means for visibly marking alocation on said deployment surface comprises signal flags affixed tosaid marker.
 6. A field marking system as in claim 1 wherein saiddeployment vehicle is a military tank.
 7. A field marking system as inclaim 6 wherein means to deploy carried by said tank has means to deploysaid field markers from either side of said tank.
 8. A field markingsystem as in claim 1 wherein said field markers are deployed seriatim tomark a lane through a hazardous field.
 9. A field marking system as inclaim 8 wherein said means for visibly marking a location on saiddeployment surface comprises marking at least one edge of said lane. 10.A field marking system as in claim 1 wherein said means for signalingthe presence of said ABC hazards comprises means for changing the colorof a luminous device associated with said marker.
 11. A field marker asin claim 1 wherein said means for communicating includes a means forvisibly signaling the presence of said ABC hazards.
 12. A field markingsystem as in claim 1 wherein said means for communicating comprisesmeans for electronically transmitting toxicity levels of said ABChazards to remote receivers.
 13. A field marking system as in claim 12wherein at least one of said remote receivers is associated with saiddeployment vehicle.
 14. A field marking system as in claim 1 whereinsaid means for standing erect on said deployment surface comprises meansfor engaging said deployment surface.
 15. A field marking system as inclaim 14 wherein said means for engaging said deployment surfacecomprises leg elements extending from said marker.
 16. A field markerfor a field marking system, said field marking system comprising adeployment vehicle, a deployment surface, a plurality of field markersand means to deploy said field markers carried by said deploymentvehicle, each said field marker comprising a lower portion, an upperportion and a central portion, said lower portion having means to remainerect when deployed associated therewith, said upper portion havingmeans to mark a position on a field where deployed associated therewith,said central portion having means to expand and means to signalassociated therewith, a means to activate associated with said means tosignal and a means to transmit associated with said means to activate.17. A field marker as in claim 16 wherein said means to remain erectwhen deployed associated with said lower portion comprises a pluralityof deployable leg elements.
 18. A field marker as in claim 17 whereinsaid plurality of deployable leg elements are each journaled in amounting plate in said central portion and extend therefrom.
 19. A fieldmarker as in claim 13 wherein said leg elements have ground engagingpointed toes for firmly engaging said deployment surface.
 20. A fieldmarking system comprising a deployment vehicle, a deployment surface, aplurality of field markers and means to deploy said field markerscarried by said deployment vehicle, each said field marker having ameans for standing erect upon said deployment surface, a means forvisibly marking a location on said deployment surface, a means forvisibly signaling the presence of physical hazards, a means fordetermining the presence of Atomic, Biological and Chemical hazards anda means for communicating wherein said means to deploy comprises meansto collapse said field marker, means to retain said field marker andmeans to release said field marker.